The 19th Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) was hosted by Admiral Hu Zhongming, the Commander of the Peoples Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N), in Qingdao during 21-23 April. Themed as Seas of Shared Future, the meeting had over 180 representatives from 29 navies for this event.
WPNS is a multi-lateral organisation with a history dating back to 1987 and was conceived by Australia’s Chief of Navy Staff, Admiral Mike Hudson. WPNS now includes 23 member and seven observer nations with maritime safety equities throughout the Western Pacific. Australia’s Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond attended the event, as did the US Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Stephen Koehler. Among the observers was the First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Benjamin Key.
Responsibility to host WPNS activities, including working groups and symposiums, is rotated annually among member countries on a volunteer basis. WPNS provides naval leaders the opportunity to discuss maritime matters of mutual interest while also giving the an opportunity to underscore the importance of safe and responsible operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Attendees at the symposium voted to adopt the latest version of The Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea, as well as the updated Disaster Response Guidelines, while deliberating issues such as revising the WPNS Business Charter and forming a research working group on uncrewed systems.
General Zhang Youxia, the Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended the event and delivered an address in which he said,
“We should resolutely abandon the Cold War mentality, join hands to create peace and stability, bridge differences through dialogue and consultation, jointly discuss and establish rules for governance, and push maritime security governance to a new level with practical results…China has been committed to resolving maritime disputes peacefully through friendly consultation with countries directly concerned, but it will safeguard its legitimate rights in the face of deliberate violation of its sovereignty and it will take firm countermeasures against unreasonable provocations…We will not make trouble and will not be afraid of trouble. China’s armed forces will resolutely safeguard national unity and interests.”
Admiral Yuan Huazhi, the PLA-N’s Political Commissar said at the closing ceremony that the PLA-N “is willing to join hands with the navies of other countries to strive for maritime peace, tranquillity and prosperity, and jointly promote and build a maritime community with a shared future.”
The 20th WPNS will be held by the French Navy in 2026.
Sources: PLA-N, TNI-AL, USN & Xinhua
