The "Our Common Home" roundtable discussion, held in Boao, Hainan Island, China, on March 28, 2026, was part of the Boao Forum for Asia sub-forum focusing on the South China Sea and media series. The event was co-organized by China Media Group, the National Institute for the South China Sea Studies (NISCSS), and the Huayang Center for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Management.

Discussion on a Shared Future for the Oceans

The "Our Common Home" roundtable brought together more than ten experts from China and other countries, including the United Kingdom, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore, both in person and online.

The discussions focused on ocean governance, maritime security, and the "blue economy," addressing the challenges, solutions, and future directions for the shared space of humanity.

Participants noted that growing geopolitical tensions worldwide are increasingly impacting maritime security and ocean governance, posing new challenges to regional stability and the international maritime order.

In this context, the concept of a maritime community with a shared future is gaining increasing relevance and practical significance.

According to Wu Shicun, Chairman of the Huayang Center and also Chairman of the NISCSS, the South China Sea could serve as a testing ground for building such a community—one based on regional stability and prosperity, peace, environmental protection, and the engagement of the younger generation.

British expert Martin Jacques praised the role of the Chinese government in combating climate change and protecting the marine environment. He noted that while the United States is withdrawing from some cooperation mechanisms, China remains active in these efforts.

Rommel Banlaoi, Chairman of the Philippine Society for International Security Studies, emphasized that the South China Sea has long been a common home for neighboring countries. However, he argued that external interference has disrupted regional stability, and that emphasis should be placed on cooperation and peace, rather than confrontation.

Zhou Jian, former Deputy Director of the Department of Boundary and Oceanic Affairs of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that it was positive that countries in the region are adopting a unified stance on protecting shared security and promoting development through rules, rather than unilateral actions.

The experts agreed that the ocean should not be a space for dividing the world, but a common home for humanity that requires cooperation from all countries.

Veronika S. Saraswati from Indonesia praised the maritime cooperation between China and Indonesia, which, through intergovernmental mechanisms, is yielding concrete results in areas such as fisheries, ports, and environmental protection.

Peter T.C. Chang from Malaysia stated that the Chinese vision of a maritime community with a shared future resonates in Southeast Asian countries. He noted that China plays an important role in protecting the marine environment and promoting sustainable fisheries.

Researcher Yan Yan from the NISCSS added that this vision represents a Chinese solution that could help transform the oceans into a "blue home" managed jointly by all of humanity.

The program also included the International Symposium on Maritime Communication 2026, where representatives from Chinese institutions, universities, and media discussed the creation of documents related to the South China Sea and the improvement of the quality of international communication in the field of maritime issues.

Nearly 200 experts, academics, and industry representatives from more than 20 countries and regions participated in the Boao Forum for Asia sub-forums focused on the South China Sea and the "Our Shared Home" roundtable, where they discussed the maritime order in the context of global changes and contributed to promoting international cooperation in the field of oceans.

CMG