South China Sea: Openness encouraged to shore up marine economy after disputes threaten to capsize relations

In light of maritime disputes with neighbouring countries and the lack of trust and confidence these conflicts have engendered, the head of a top Chinese think tank has called for a strategy of unilateral opening-up in the marine sector to address the issue head-on.

Chi Fulin, president of the Hainan-based China Institute for Reform and Development, proffered the strategy as a means of rapprochement with Southeast Asian countries, many of which dispute China’s claims over the South China Sea.