Military scholars and regional experts emphasized the urgent need for diplomacy during a key session of the Beijing Xiangshan Forum Navigator Meeting this week. Participants highlighted escalating tensions in the South China Sea, urging stakeholders to prioritize dialogue over confrontation.
"No single party benefits from militarization," stated Dr. Li Wei, a security analyst at the event. "Shared maritime resources and trade routes demand collective stewardship." The forum saw proposals for multilateral frameworks to address fishing rights and energy exploration disputes.
New data presented at the meeting revealed 23% of global shipping passes through the contested waters, underscoring the economic stakes for Asia and beyond. Analysts warned that prolonged discord could disrupt supply chains affecting markets from Singapore to San Francisco.
ASEAN representatives reiterated commitments to finalizing a Code of Conduct, while academics proposed joint research initiatives on marine conservation. The discussions concluded with a working group tasked with developing confidence-building measures to be presented at November\u2019s ASEAN Defense Ministers\u2019 Meeting.
