On June 5, the Tides & Voices salon took place at China Media Group's Sanya Studio. Organized by the CMG Chinese Language Programming Center, the event united Chinese and global specialists from the CMG Expert Committee on South China Sea Studies. Attendees held detailed talks on South China Sea governance and shifts in the Asian security framework, urging all sides to build agreement, expand collaboration, and protect peace, stability, and shared growth in the region.

With 2026 marking the 35th anniversary of China-ASEAN Dialogue Relations and the fifth year since the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, experts observed that even as outside actors amplify disputes and overstate security risks, dialogue and cooperation stay central to South China Sea progress.

Zhou Jian, former Representative for Boundary and Ocean Affairs of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted that unlike some external nations pushing confrontation and zero-sum outcomes, China and ASEAN have pursued practical teamwork and settled differences through joint growth. This model stands as a vital support for steady conditions in the South China Sea.

Yang Xiao, a researcher at the Institute of Peaceful Development Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, highlighted positive results in China-ASEAN maritime efforts, referencing the short film Shared Waters, Shared Futures shown during the salon. He pointed to active work in eco-fisheries, the blue economy, port logistics, and maritime search and rescue that delivers real benefits to communities along the South China Sea.

Li Kaisheng, Vice President of the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, stressed that regional nations serve as the true stewards of security. He urged countries to abandon narrow reliance on military expansion and instead adopt shared security and cooperation principles.

Malaysian scholar Peter TC Chang explored the historical background of migration to Southeast Asia as featured in the Chinese film Dear You. He recommended more youth exchanges between China and Malaysia through study tours and environmental projects to deepen people-to-people connections.

The Tides & Voices salon drew academic support from the CMG Expert Committee on South China Sea Studies, aiming to harness media and think tank roles in forging regional consensus, handling maritime issues, and advancing peaceful development.