Joint efforts needed to prevent conflicts at sea

Remarks by Senior Colonel Zhou Bo, director of the center for security cooperation at the Office for International Military Cooperation at the Ministry of National Defense

Nearly 90 percent of global trade is maritime trade, therefore maritime security is of vital importance to all countries. As the world's largest trading and exporting country, China attaches great importance to maritime security. China's initiative to jointly build the 21st century Maritime Silk Road is aimed at promoting maritime connectivity and practical cooperation in various fields, as well as promoting common security through economic development.

At present, there are no major threats to global maritime security, but nontraditional threats such as piracy, maritime terrorism, trafficking in human beings and drugs, and natural disasters still exist. In the Asia-Pacific region, the overall maritime situation is stable. However, some countries outside the region, in disregard of the concerns of coastal countries, persist in military activities at sea and in the air, such as high-intensity and large-scale close-in reconnaissance. Differences in the interpretation of international law by states and in domestic law increase the risk of accidents and conflicts. The situation in the South China Sea is polarized. On the one hand, with the smooth progress of the negotiations on the code of conduct in the South China Sea between China and ASEAN countries, the situation in the South China Sea has calmed down significantly. On the other hand, some countries outside the South China Sea have obviously violated their commitments of not taking a position on the South China Sea issue, and have openly increased their involvement in the South China Sea, thus making the factors of instability in the South China Sea significantly rise.