Second Annual Conference of the Indian Ocean Society (2024) and Symposium on “The Security Situation in the Indian Ocean in a Changing World Landscape”
Held in Shenzhen
On May 17-19, 2024, the 2nd Annual Meeting of the Indian Ocean Society (IOS) was successfully held in Shenzhen, China, along with a symposium on “Indian Ocean Security Situation in the Changing World Landscape”. The conference was organized by the Indian Ocean Society, a branch of the China South Asia Society, and hosted by the Institute of Regional Countries and International Communication of Shenzhen University and the College of Foreign Languages of Shenzhen University. The conference brought together nearly 100 policy makers, scholars, industry experts, journal editors and editors from more than 50 organizations across China to have a warm and fruitful exchange and discussion on the core theme of “Indian Ocean Security Situation in the Changing World Landscape”.
一、Opening Ceremony Speech
The opening ceremony of the Second Annual Conference of the Indian Ocean Studies Association (2024) and the Academic Seminar on "Indian Ocean Security in the Changing World Order" was hosted by Professor Zhu Cuiping, President of the Indian Ocean Studies Association and Director of the Indian Ocean Region Research Center at Yunnan University of Finance and Economics. Zhang Xiaohong, Vice President of Shenzhen University; a leader from the Central Foreign Affairs Office; Wang Xiaoying, Deputy Director of the Contemporary World Research Center of the CPC International Liaison Department; Zhang Liang, Counselor of the Asian Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Li Shuangjian, Deputy Director of the National Marine Data and Information Service; and Ye Hailin, President of the China South Asia Studies Association and Deputy Director of the National Institute for South Asia Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, each delivered speeches in succession.
Zhang Xiaohong, Vice President of Shenzhen University
In her speech on behalf of the host institution, Shenzhen University, Professor Zhang Xiaohong, Vice President of Shenzhen University, expressed that in Shenzhen, we witness the perfect integration of the philosophy of "water" and the "Maritime Silk Road." The water of Shenzhen is not merely beautiful in appearance; its inclusiveness is the soul of the city's development. Shenzhen, this young and vibrant city, resembles a dazzling pearl embedded along the coast of the South China Sea. With its open posture and innovative DNA, it continues to write a new chapter in the Maritime Silk Road. Shenzhen University stands in this vast ocean of knowledge, embracing the flow of wisdom from all corners of the world. Shenzhen University actively participates in the governance of the Indian Ocean, exploring sustainable development paths through interdisciplinary, cross-regional, and cross-cultural cooperation, striving to build a harmonious maritime community with a shared future.
Wang Xiaoying, Deputy Director of the Center for Studies of the Contemporary World at the CPC International Liaison Department
The strategic position of the Indian Ocean region is extremely important, serving as a vital sea lane for world trade and earning the moniker of "the world's warehouse." In response, China should intensify its assistance and strengthen economic cooperation with countries in the Indian Ocean region. By adopting a targeted approach of "one country, one strategy," China can carry out cooperation in infrastructure, ports, digital economy, and other fields in a targeted manner, ensuring that the "Belt and Road" interconnectivity goes deep and becomes tangible.
Zhang Liang, Counselor of the Department of Asian Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The right choice for the future of the Indian Ocean should be openness rather than closeness, unity rather than division, cooperation rather than confrontation, fairness rather than bullying, and coexistence rather than a zero-sum game. Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and its foreign policy implications, China has comprehensively deepened mutually beneficial cooperation with countries in the Indian Ocean region, and proposed Chinese solutions and contributed Chinese wisdom to maintaining regional stability, promoting common development, and enhancing mutual learning among civilizations. First, political mutual trust between China and countries in the region has been continuously strengthened. Second, high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative has injected strong impetus into economic共振 in the Indian Ocean region. Third, China and countries in the region have continuously deepened cooperation in security, disaster prevention, blue economy, emergency rescue, ecological protection, scientific and technological research, and other areas.
Li Shuangjian, Deputy Director of the National Marine Data and Information Service
Currently, the global maritime landscape is fraught with challenges, where competition and cooperation coexist as key themes. Extraregional countries such as Russia, Japan, France, the United Kingdom, and Australia are all involved in the development and security governance of the Indian Ocean region. Against this backdrop, as an important partner in the Indian Ocean region, China needs to further strengthen communication and collaboration with other countries to jointly promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region.
Ye Hailin, President of the China South Asia Studies Association, Vice President and Researcher of the National Institute for South Asian, Southeast Asian and Oceanian Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
The "Three Dos and Three Don'ts" in area and country studies are as follows: Do build long-term research capabilities, don't just chase hot topics; do act as psychological counselors, don't act as fortune-tellers; do engage in area and country studies as a discipline, don't just talk about area and country studies without substance. We are currently in a golden window period for area and country studies, but we must also clearly recognize that this is an important test for us.
二、Keynote Speech
The keynote speech at the Second Annual Conference of the Indian Ocean Studies Association (2024) and the Academic Seminar on "The Security Situation in the Indian Ocean in the Changing World Order" was hosted and delivered by Professor Dai Yonghong, Vice President of the Indian Ocean Studies Association, Director of the Institute of Area Studies and International Communication at Shenzhen University, and Dean of the School of Foreign Languages at Shenzhen University. His keynote speech was titled "Shaping Security and Cooperative Governance in the Bay of Bengal Region from the Perspective of International Communication."
The keynote speakers include: Rong Ying, Researcher at the China Institute for International Studies; Zhu Cuiping, President of the Indian Ocean Studies Association and Director of the Indian Ocean Region Research Center at Yunnan University of Finance and Economics; Hu Shisheng, Director and Researcher at the National Institute for South Asian, Southeast Asian and Oceanian Studies, China Institutes for Contemporary International Relations; Fan Hongwei, Professor at the School of International Relations, Xiamen University; and Yan Wei, Deputy Director of the Middle East Institute at Northwest University.
Rong Ying, Researcher at the China Institute for International Studies
Title: India and Sino-India Relations in the Context of Major Transformations
Currently, India is at a new stage of development for both its political party and national fortunes. In this context, the outcome of India's general election will directly influence the country's future development path and direction. It is worth our in-depth study and consideration to explore how Sino-India relations will evolve, how areas of cooperation will expand, and how competitive dynamics will change.
Editor-in-Chief of Foreign Affairs Review, Chen Zhirui
Title: Regional Resilience, Global Order, and China's Diplomacy
In the current context, regional resilience has emerged as a crucial force in maintaining global stability and development. The basic connotations of resilience encompass four aspects: actively adjusting to confront challenges (adaptability), recovering from adverse events (resilience), maintaining good functionality and outcomes under constrained conditions (stability), and updating and transforming systems (progressive evolution). China's diplomacy should fully leverage the advantages of regional resilience, strengthen communication and collaboration with other countries, and jointly address global challenges.
Zhu Cuiping, President of the Indian Ocean Studies Association and Director of the Indian Ocean Region Research Center at Yunnan University of Finance and Economics
Title: Characteristics of the Current Situation in the Indian Ocean and New Trends in India's Strategic Choices
The main changes in the current situation of the Indian Ocean focus on the Middle East turmoil stemming from the Palestine-Israel conflict, strategic competition among major powers in the Indo-Pacific, and international relations amid multiple national elections. The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and Indian Ocean island countries have emerged as new trends in India's strategic choices in the Indian Ocean. The future evolution of the situation in the Indian Ocean will be mainly related to US checks and balances, hedging by smaller countries, and Indian interference.
Hu Shisheng, Director and Researcher at the National Institute for South Asian, Southeast Asian and Oceanian Studies, China Institutes for Contemporary International Relations
Title: Reflections on China's Strategy and Relations with South Asia in the New Situation
India is replacing the "Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence" with the trinity of mutual respect, mutual benefit, and mutual sensitivity as it strives to become a global leader and pursues a multipolar Asia with India as a pole in South Asia. Pakistan faces political turmoil and escalating security crises. Small countries in South Asia are facing increasing costs in choosing between the Indo-Pacific strategy and the Belt and Road Initiative frameworks.
Fan Hongwei, Professor at the School of International Relations, Xiamen University
Title: China's Diplomatic Progress in Southeast Asia Over the Decade (2013-2023)
。China's relations with Southeast Asia have undergone three significant leaps. The first leap occurred between 1950 and 1991, when China normalized relations with all Southeast Asian countries. The second leap took place between 1991 and 2012, during which China achieved many firsts in its relations with extra-regional powers and Southeast Asian countries, as well as with ASEAN. Starting from 2021, China's relations with Southeast Asia have achieved the third leap.
Yan Wei, Deputy Director of the Institute of Middle East Studies, Xibei University
Title: Historical Reflections on Middle East Issues in the Context of the Century-Long Changes
The prominent characteristic of contemporary conflicts in the Middle East lies in the clashes caused by social heterogeneity such as ethnicity, sectarianism, and tribalism. Historically, the coexistence of the diverse and heterogeneous societies in the Middle East has been closely related to their protective institutions, autonomous systems, the unity of multiculturalism, and the effectiveness of regional order. The beauty of harmony lies in embracing differences, and reconciliation in the Middle East requires collective efforts.
Dai Yonghong, Vice President of the Indian Ocean Studies Association, Director of the Institute for Regional and National Studies and International Communication at Shenzhen University, and Dean of the School of Foreign Languages at Shenzhen University
Title: Shaping Security and Cooperative Governance in the Bay of Bengal Region from the Perspective of International Communication
The geostrategic location around the Bay of Bengal is extremely important, which can be summarized as "two countries connecting three subregions, one bay overlooking two straits, and one ring linking two oceans." The scarcity in this region is prominently manifested in its geopolitical characteristics, strategic directions, great power rivalry, and economic potential. The strategic rivalry in global geopolitics over the next 30 years will unfold around the "Eastern Indian Ocean." The competition between China and India in this region includes geopolitical competition, infrastructure competition, economic competition, and competition in security governance. In response, we should establish a strategic, distinctive, and systematic international communication development system in the Bay of Bengal region with "one center, two basic points, three distinctive features, four liaison points, and five development forces," focusing on enhancing the ability to shape security perceptions. We should empower the development and security of overseas interests with "foreign languages + international communication + regional and national studies."
三、Speech at the Sub-forum
This conference features three sub-forums.
Sub-forum 1: The Indian Ocean and Ocean-related Issues. Focusing on global changes, grand strategies, and the security situation in the Indian Ocean. Researcher Hu Juan from the South Asian Studies Institute of Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences introduced the regional importance of India and the Indian Ocean. Associate Researcher Pan Yue from the School of International Relations/Overseas Chinese Studies Institute of Jinan University responded to the impact of ASEAN's reshaping of its status within small multilateral organizations on its regional interests and roles in the context of Sino-US competition and cooperation. Professor Zhang Shubin, Director of the Nepal Research Center at Hebei University of Economics and Business, believes that the influence of the United States, India, Japan, and South Korea in Nepal exceeds that of China. Researcher Luo Shengrong from the Institute of International Relations, Yunnan University, believes that amidst intensifying Sino-US competition, the intertwining of traditional and non-traditional security remains a significant issue in the development of the Mekong River region, and so on.
Sub-forum 2: Regional and Country-specific Issues in South Asia Focusing on the geopolitical landscape, security situation, politics, economy, society, and foreign affairs of South Asian countries. Researcher Lan Jianxue from the Asia-Pacific Research Institute of China Institute for International Studies believes that Sino-Indian relations will remain low for the next five to ten years against the backdrop of Sino-US strategic competition. Professor Zhang Li from Sichuan University proposed that Modi's re-election would result in path dependency, with stronger continuity in commitments compared to his previous two terms. Professor Zhang Jie from the School of International Relations at Xi'an International Studies University suggested that India's infrastructure development in the global south has rapidly increased the goodwill of these countries towards India, and its export of Indian digital governance models to developing countries has achieved certain results. In discussions on India's relations with neighboring countries, Professor Deng Hongying from Zhongnan University of Economics and Law believes that India and Malaysia will not move towards security decoupling in the future due to shared interests. Professor Zhu Yongbiao, Director of the School of Politics and International Relations and Director of the Afghanistan Research Center at Lanzhou University, focused on the relationship between refugees in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Professor Yang Yishuang from the Indian Ocean Region Research Center at Yunnan University of Finance and Economics elaborated on the "middleman" class in India and changes in India's political party landscape.
Sub-forum 3: Southeast Asia and Other Domains。Focusing on the situation in Southeast Asia, and the political, economic, social, and security dynamics of major Southeast Asian countries. Associate Professor Liu Yuchen from the School of Marxism at University of Jinan innovatively proposed the concept of "security role" in the context of Australian studies. Researcher Yu Jiahai, Assistant Director of the Research Center for Indian Ocean Island Countries at South China University of Technology, believes that the concept of a Community of Shared Future for Mankind emphasizes mutual dependence and common development among countries worldwide, aligning with the development goals of countries in the Indian Ocean region. Professor Wang Yonghui from the School of Politics and International Relations at Central China Normal University analyzed the historical process from "Indianization" to "De-Indianization" from a historical perspective. Associate Researcher Zhu Jingjin from the School of International Relations at Sichuan University pointed out that Sino-Indian relations influence academic research directions: when relations are good, academia focuses on the possibilities and paths for building mutual trust; when relations are strained, academia focuses on the root causes of the lack of mutual trust and the challenges it poses, and so on.
四、The Interdisciplinary Journal Forum
A highlight of this annual conference is the newly established Interdisciplinary Journal Forum, supported by the Institute of Regional and National Studies and International Communication, Shenzhen University, and the School of Foreign Languages, Shenzhen University. Participants in this forum include Chen Zhirui, Editor-in-Chief of Chinese Journal of International Politics; Wu Zhaoli, Executive Director of the Editorial Department of South Asian Studies; Fan Hongwei, Editor-in-Chief of Nanyang Issues Studies; Zhu Cuiping, Editor-in-Chief of Indian Ocean Economy Research; Huang Zhaoyu, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Contemporary International Relations; Wang Jue, Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Ethnology; Chen Ruohua, Director of the Editorial Department of Southeast Asian Studies; Shao Wenjing, from the Editorial Department of Pacific Journal; Xie Lei, from the Editorial Department of International Security Studies; Zhao Yuechen, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Yunnan University Journal of Area Studies; and Wu Changrong, Editor-in-Chief of Guo Wen Publishing Co., Ltd.
At the forum, the editors-in-chief and experts made numerous presentations, engaging in in-depth exchanges regarding the journals' publication philosophy, special columns, and improvements in academic quality. They all agreed that interdisciplinary journals, as important carriers for promoting cross-disciplinary integration, should actively broaden academic horizons, strengthen interdisciplinary research, and drive academic innovation. Additionally, journals should also focus on quality, innovate peer review systems, enhance academic standards, and provide high-quality academic achievements for the academic community and think tank development.
Contributed by: Fu Le
Reviewed by: Dai Yonghong
