From 1-3 August 2024, Him Raksmey, Executive Director of CCRS, was invited to attend and speak at a regional workshop on “Southeast Asia’s Preparedness for Crises in the Maritime Domain”, organized by RSIS, CSIS Indonesia, and DAV. The event intended to investigate potential maritime crisis scenarios in Southeast Asia, and how regional states can prepare for these crises at national and regional levels. About 50 regional experts, think tankers, and academia from Southeast Asia took part in the meeting.
During the workshop, the ED of CCRS shared his intervention on Cambodia’s defense policy concerning maritime security, and what possible roles Cambodia can do to contribute to ASEAN-led maritime security cooperation including enhancing Cambodia’s legal maritime frameworks, its maritime capabilities, and its involvements in promoting regional maritime cooperation under ASEAN-led frameworks. He also took the opportunity to network and exchange views with regional scholars on relevant matters of mutual interests, and explore opportunities of cooperation between CCRS and other prominent track-two institutions in Southeast Asia.
CCRS congratulated RSIS, CSIS Indonesia, and DAV for organizing this important gathering.
Key takeaways from this regional workshop included:
- Maritime security amidst the US-China rivalry, especially in potential crises in South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, is now regarded by many Southeast Asian countries as the key issue that will be likely to affect regional peace and security, and question the relevance of ASEAN in addressing these crises.
- There have been increased signs of urgency among some ASEAN countries on how to prepare, individually and multilaterally under ASEAN, for the potential maritime crises.
- For long-term regional security and prosperity, it is important that Southeast Asian countries to enhance their defense postures and strategic outlooks, and improve their capabilities and defense partnerships to prepare for possibilities of maritime crises.
