36th USI National Seminar on “Indo-Pacific Region: Security Dynamics & Challenges” – USI

36^th USI National Seminar on “Indo-Pacific Region: Security Dynamics & Challenges”

“36^th National Seminar on Indo-Pacific Region: Security Dynamics & Challenges” was organised by USI from 19 to 20 November 2015.The seminar was attended by participants from Bangladesh, China, Malaysia, Russia, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, US and India The Seminar was conducted over a period of two days and had four sessions, excluding he Inaugural and the Valedictory Sessions..

The Inaugural Session commenced with the Welcome Address by Lt Gen PK Singh, PVSM, AVSM (Retd) Director USI. The Key Note Address was delivered by General VK Singh, PVSM, AVSM,YSM (Retd), Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Statistics and Programme Implementation, Minister of State for External Affairs and Overseas Indian Affairs and the former Chief of Army Staff. Gen VK Singh also answered questions raised by the audience during the Question – Answer session.

Inaugural Session

The first session dealt with “The Indo-Pacific as a Geo-strategic Concept and Construct”. The Chairperson for this session wasVice Admiral AK Singh,PVSM, AVSM, NM (Retd) and Co-Chair wasMaj Gen Liu Chao (Retd) from China. The “Historical Perspective of Indo-Pacific Region” was given by Vice Admiral AG Thapliyal, AVSM & Bar (Retd), this was followed by presentation by Rear Admiral KR Menon (Retd), who highlighted the “Rationale for Indo-Pacific as a Security Construct”. The delegate from Taiwan, Dr Mumin Chen gave his views on “China’s Role as a Maritime Power and its Impact on Security Environment in East Asia and Indo Pacific” and Dr Yang Minghong from China gave his presentation on “China’s MSR Initiative: A Perspective in the Context of IOR Pacific Security Cooperation”. Ambassador Gleb A Ivashentsov from Russia could not attend the session, however he had sent his paper highlighting “Russian Maritime Doctrine and the need for a new Indo-Pacific Construct” and Brigadier Sandeep Jain highlighted the key points of his paper.

Chair, Co-Chair and the Panellist of Session I

Audience

Session II on “Dynamics of Cooperation, Competition and Conflict in the Indian Ocean” was chaired byVice Admiral AK Chopra, PVSM, AVSM (Retd). The panellist included Lt Gen Dato’ Azizan bin Md Delin from Malaysia who highlighted the “Dynamics of Competition, Cooperation and Conflict in South East Asia” and Commodore Lalit Kapur (Retd) from India presented a paper on “Dynamics of Competition, Cooperation and Conflict in Middle East”.

Chair and Panellist of Session II

Session III on “Dynamics of Cooperation, Competition and Conflict in the Western Pacific” was held on the second day (20 November).The Chairperson was Ambassador RS Kalha, IFS (Retd). The panellist included Col Nguyen The Hong from Vietnam who spoke on “Dynamics of Competition, Cooperation and Conflict in South China Sea”, Captain (Navy) Sukjoon Yoon (Retd) from South Korea presenting a paper on “ Dynamics of Competition, Cooperation and Conflict in East China Sea”, Dr Huang Yunsong from China spoke on “Interplay between Security and Dynamics in the South China Sea” and Dr Chishin Chang from Taiwan highlighted “Taiwan-China Relations as a Security Concern for the East Asia Region”.

Chair and the Panellist of Session III

Audience

The lastSession dealt with “Measures for Forging Indo-Pacific Security Cooperation”. The Chairperson for this session wasAmbassador Sanjay Singh, IFS (Retd) and Co-Chair was Lt Gen MF Akbar (Retd) from Bangladesh. The panellist for this session were Dr Victor Sumsky from Russia who deliberated on “Existing Western Pacific Regional Cooperation Models and limitations”, Commodore Lalit Kapur (Retd) from India who highlighted the “Existing Indian Ocean Regional Cooperation Models and Limitations”, Dr Michael Pillsbury spoke on “Objectives of Indo-Pacific Security Mechanism, Crystal Gazing on Structure, Governance and Funding Mechanisms, Extra Regional Power Perspective” and finally Cdr MH Rajesh gave his views on “Objectives of Indo-Pacific Security Mechanism, Crystal Gazing on Structure, Governance and Funding Mechanisms, Indian Ocean Perspective” .

After each session there was a Question- Answer session where the issues pertaining to the theme was deliberated upon.

Chair, Co-Chair and the Panellist of Session IV

Question Answer Session

The Seminar concluded with the Valedictory Address delivered by Vice Admiral Satish Soni, PVSM, AVSM, NM, ADC, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command. Gen PJS Sandhu, Dy Director & Editor, USI gave the Vote of Thanks.