The Indo-Pacific is facing a host of shared security challenges, from maritime piracy and crime to heated territorial disputes. In this vast maritime space – stretching from East Africa to the Pacific Island chains – the foundations of regional commerce and security are secured through the freedom of navigation and secure sea lines of communication.
Yet, there are a number of key challenges to the rules and order in the region that have underpinned security and prosperity for the littoral states. In the South China Sea, Beijing continues to practice salami-slicing tactics aimed at ensuring its de-facto control of much of this key water way through extensive land reclamation and the imposition of military equipment and infrastructure. Meanwhile, Beijing also continues to raise regional concerns through its constant incursions into the maritime and airspace surrounding Japan’s Senkaku islands, also claimed by China and referred to as the Diaoyu, in the East China Sea.
To shed light on these issues, MLI hosted a special panel event that brought together experts from like-minded countries to discuss the maritime security challenges facing the Indo-Pacific.
Panelists
- Dr. Takako Hikotani, Gerald L. Curtis Associate Professor of Modern Japanese Politics and Foreign Policy, Columbia University
- Dr. James Boutilier, Former Special Advisor (Policy) at Canada’s Maritime Forces Pacific Headquarters
- Mr. Greg Poling, director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative and a fellow with the Southeast Asia Program at Center for Strategic and International Studies
- Dr. Tanvi Madan, senior fellow in the Project on International Order and Strategy in the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institution, and director of The India Project
- Dr. Julie Nguyen, External Advisory Council member, York Centre for Asian Research, York University, and co-founder and director, Canada Vietnam Trade Council
- Mr. Jonathan Berkshire Miller, Deputy Director and a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Advancing Canada’s Interests Abroad at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, and Distinguished Fellow with the Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada (moderator)
A few photos from the event can be seen below. Our photo gallery can be found here.
