Niklas Swanström Speaks at the 8th International Symposium on Ocean Governance May 25–26, 2026

May 26, 2026: Dr. Niklas Swanström, Executive Director of the Institute for Security and Development Policy, spoke at the 8th International Symposium on Scientific and Legal Aspects of the Regimes of the Continental Shelf and the Area, held in Xiamen, China. The symposium was jointly organized by the State Key Laboratory of Submarine Geoscience, the China Institute for Marine Affairs, the China Oceanic Foundation, the Huayang Center for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance, Xiamen University, the Third Institute of Oceanography, the Fujian Provincial Department of Ocean and Fisheries, and the Xiamen Municipal Bureau of Ocean Development.

Dr. Swanström’s presentation, titled “Trust, Geopolitics, and the Limits of Legalism in Ocean Governance,” addressed the growing challenges facing multilateral ocean governance. He argued that current governance gaps are not primarily due to a lack of legal frameworks, but instead stem from geopolitical mistrust, uneven implementation, and the inherent limitations of legal approaches in contested maritime areas.

He emphasized that in many contexts, regional cooperation, informal coordination, and trust-building mechanisms are more effective in maintaining maritime stability than formal legal frameworks alone.

The symposium brought together a distinguished group of participants, including UN representatives, Chinese government officials, and leading academics from Asia, Africa, and Europe.