Due to climate change, the oceanic and atmospheric circulation in the South China Sea (SCS) has changed significantly in recent decades. Tropical cyclones, storm surges, internal waves, strong currents, and other extreme meteorological and oceanic processes occur frequently, having serious impacts on the marine environment and ecosystem of the SCS, as well as inflicting great casualties and economic losses for China and ASEAN Member States (AMS).

Better understanding and more knowledge of the natural characteristics of the SCS will help China and AMS to better utilize and protect the SCS in a sustainable and scientific way. However, due to the limitation of ocean observation and research capabilities, our substantial understanding of the SCS is far from sufficient. This remarkably impairs our ability to deal with climate change, protect the marine environment and ecology, and prevent and mitigate marine disasters. Socioeconomic development of the region has therefore been posed with great challenges.

The Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) provides that China and AMS may explore or undertake cooperative activities in relevant areas, including marine scientific research. In this regard, two workshops on marine scientific research in the SCS were successfully held in 2021 and 2023 respectively, and five training courses on marine scientific research in the SCS were successfully held from 2021 to 2025 consecutively. Click here for previous workshops and training courses.

The workshops and training courses were highly commended by participants from China and AMS. More than 310 scientists and government officials joined the past two workshops, where more than 60 presentations were given to share experience and best practices in various fields of marine scientific research. More than 50 senior scientists gave lectures on marine observation technology and fundamental theory in the past five training courses for more than 600 trainees. The workshops and training courses have played a positive role in improving the capacity building of scientific institutions and government line agencies in charge of marine scientific research in AMS.

To further promote cooperation in marine scientific research in the SCS, China plans to hold the 6th training course in Qingdao, China in September, 2026 under the ambit of the implementation of the DOC. To build on the progress of the previous training courses, the 6th one will focus on topics relating to ocean observation, numerical modeling, air-sea interaction and climate change, and marine ecosystem conservation, among others. A total of 22 trainees from AMS will be invited to the training course in physical format, and their round-trip air tickets and accommodation expenses during the training will be borne by the Chinese side. The administrative arrangements and tentative program of the training course are as follows.