On May 14, the nineteenth session of the “Huayang Talk” was jointly held by the Huayang Center for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance (Huayang Center), the National Institute for South China Sea Studies (NISCSS), and Hainan Today magazine. Fiona Barnaby, Head of Humanitarian Affairs and Policy Unit at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Regional Delegation for East Asia, and Marwa Shabbar, Head of the Legal Department of the ICRC Regional Delegation for East Asia, delivered a special academic lecture titled “Law of Armed Conflict at Sea: Observations, Challenges, and Developments.”

Barnaby introduced the historical background behind the establishment of the ICRC, as well as its mission, vision, and scope of authority. She also shared the conditions required for carrying out international humanitarian assistance and the potential obstacles involved. Shabbar elaborated on the importance of international humanitarian law as the legal cornerstone governing armed conflict at sea, and reviewed the possible difficulties and challenges that may arise in its implementation. The two speakers also engaged in discussions with participants on topics including the division of responsibilities and operational mechanisms of the ICRC, the Strait of Hormuz crisis, and humanitarian assistance in Gaza.

The academic salon was moderated by Bao Yinan, Associate Research Fellow at the Huayang Center. More than 20 representatives from the Huayang Center, NISCSS, the Hainan Branch of Xinhua News Agency, and other institutions attended the event.

On the same day, Barnaby and her delegation also paid a visit to Wu Shicun, Chairman of the Huayang Center and Chairman of the Academic Committee of NISCSS. The two sides exchanged views on topics including consultations on the “Code of Conduct in the South China Sea,” maritime crisis management in the South China Sea, the current situation in the Middle East, and think tank exchanges.