It is with pleasure that we share with you Stratbase ADR Institute’s latest Defense and Security Paper entitled “The Development of a Blue Economy at the Forefront and Center of the South China Sea Discussion,” authored by Dr. Carmen Ablan Lagman, a Non-Resident Fellow of the Institute.

This paper is part of a series of publications under the Institute’s program “Strengthening Maritime Security Cooperation in a Multipolar Indo-Pacific.”

Maritime security under a holistic perspective renders an utmost importance to the policy of blue economy. Collaborative in nature, this policy elicits cooperation between government agencies, the private sector, civil society and other organizations, where economic development is weighed with the need for conservation and sustainable management of the oceans’ resources.

In essence, addressing the persistent issue of competing claims over the South China Sea remains the overarching concern. By adopting the goals of building a blue economy in the West Philippines Sea, the Philippines started investing in the development of infrastructure and programs to increase presence both in the form of security and non-security measures.

Moreover, local and international partnerships will not only facilitate the achievement of better security and development outcomes but will also be critical in addressing science, technology, training, innovation and investments needs.

This paper is useful toward a better understanding of the issue of maritime security and the importance of a blue economy in the West Philippine Sea.