Introduction to Dr. Wu Shicun:

At present, Wu Shicun is the Director of National Institute for South China Sea Studies (NISCSS), adjunct Deputy Director of Collaborative Innovation Center for National Institute for South China Sea Studies of Nanjing University and Vice President of Institute for Boao Forum for Asia. Wu Shicun has devoted himself to the research of the South China Sea dispute for over two decades. Over a long period, he has specialized in cross-field research concerning the history of the South China Sea, maritime delimitation, international relations and regional security strategies. He took part in the China-Vietnam negotiations on Beibu Gulf. He was also in charge of about 100 relevant projects and published over 20 works and more than 100 essays in Chinese or English.

Wu Shicun was interviewed by a reporter from Students News Agency

In recent years, due to growing intervention by foreign great powers, the South China Sea dispute has become more intense and more complicated. In the games among multiple sides, China is confronted with a number of challenges. How should we deal with them? On September 13, 2016, the reporter from Student News Agency had a chance to interview and listen to the in-depth analysis from Dr. Wu Shicun, President of NISCSS, who was invited by the newly-founded Center for Social Sciences to give a speech on the first SUSTech Forum for Social Sciences.

Before the interview, the reporter felt excited and anticipated that the dialogue with this renowned expert must be in a serious atmosphere. However, when the reporter saw President Wu, all his concerns disappeared because with his eyes brimming with radiating vigor, the sixty-year-old elder, behaved and talked amiably.

SUSTech is A Beautiful Unversity with Vigor

Reporter: President Wu, it is the first time for you to visit SUSTech. What is your first impression of this university?

Wu Shicun: The school is nice. SUSTech is a new and beautiful university with vigor. It is of great significance to build a new university in Shenzhen in accordance with the education mode of top universities in other countries to explore the path of China’s education reform. I hope that in the future, SUSTech can offer experience for China’s higher education reform.

“Everything can be done if one never says ‘never’”, focus on one thing and one is sure to achieve It

Reporter: We know that the development of NISCSS has gone through a long process, which began from the research of the issue concerning China-Vietnam negotiations on Beibu Gulf. It evolved from the former Hainan Institute for South China Sea Studies to NISCSS in 2004. You must have experienced a host of difficulties, what is your feeling towards them?

Wu Shicun: Of course. I think a person can achieve a lot in his own life. Through establishing, building and operating the institute, an important idea took hold in me, which is also the present motto of our institute: Everything can be done if one never says never. Focus on one thing, and one is sure to achieve it. The former Hainan Institute for South China Sea Studies changed its name, replacing “Hainan” by “National” in 2004, which was unimaginably circuitous and spent us three years. Later, I joined in the work of land acquisition, project approval and construction. Once, an American scholar visited NISCSS and launched an investigation in it. He told me, “You have established NISCSS, a brand whose significance far outweighs Alibaba.” In terms of safeguarding national benefits, this platform has its special significance indeed. 

Reporter: On the official website of the NISCSS, I see a sentence you have said, that is, “NISCSS, which was established in the 1990s, grows, develops and expands in line with Chinese people’s awakening maritime consciousness, and China’s emphasis on the South China Sea and its relevant research.” What is your explanation towards this opinion? 

Wu Shicun: It is the Chinese people’s awakening maritime consciousness and China’s emphasis on the South China Sea that helps the NISCSS develop today. At present, the institute not only has a headquarter in Haikou, but also has NISCSS Beijing Office which was established in 2013 and a new think tank called China-U.S. Research Institute in Washington which was founded last year. As a major power, China takes its think tank abroad and has right of speech on the global stage, which is a vital symbol of its soft power. We should settle the South China Sea dispute in a peaceful way, ease controversy and promote maritime cooperation between China and neighboring countries around the South China Sea. Under the instructions of the state leaders, we should build the South China Sea into a peaceful, friendly sea area for cooperation. As a national platform for promoting regional communication, NISCSS is expanding its scale. If the Chinese government does not attach great importance to us, we could hardly achieve it. After the so-called arbitration on the South China Sea was announced, we could see the improved maritime consciousness of the Chinese people from their reaction to this issue. We do not take part in nor accept the arbitration, but this is not inaction. Instead, we immediately published the white paper concerning the South China Sea dispute and made an effective statement.

South China Sea dispute is not a simple territorial dispute, but also a game between the major powers

Reporter: You have just talked about the so-called South China Sea arbitration. We know that during the administration of Benigno Aquino III, Sino-Philippines relations had been stagnant. The so-called South China Sea arbitration did not bring any benefits to the Philippines. From your point of view, how will the Sino-Philippines relations develop?

Wu Shicun: Generally speaking, the improvement of Sino-Philippines relations is in line with the needs of the two peoples. Rodrigo Duterte, the newly elected president of the Philippines, has shown a friendly attitude toward China. He believes that the Sino-Philippines relations have suffered much from the South China Sea arbitration. For example, though endowed with rich tourism resources, the Philippines only received less than 500,000 Chinese tourists last year while 15 million Chinese tourists visited the ASEAN countries with Thailand accounting for 8 million. After taking office, the new president proposed to visit China, which showed his desire to improve the Sino-Philippines bilateral relations. Last month, I met Fidel Ramos, former Philippine president of the Philippine, in Hong Kong where we discussed “how to improve bilateral relations as soon as possible”. At present, the Sino-Philippines relations are developing toward the right direction. However, we know that the improvement process will not be easy as some extraterritorial powers want Asia to fall into chaos. Why? Because only when the region is in chaos could America take the opportunity to implement its so-called Asia-Pacific rebalancing strategy and contain China by deploying its naval forces to the Western Pacific region.

Competing for the right of speech needs the support of international talents

Reporter: Before the so-called South China Sea arbitration, you and the National Institute for South China Sea Studies gave a series of interpretation of the event, which attracted much attention. In your opinion, how can university students enhance their maritime consciousness and the awareness to protect the national sovereignty?

Wu Shicun: It is very meaningful for university students to care about the South China Sea dispute. I believe there are four major challenges in the South China Sea dispute, namely the maritime rights protection, legal disputes, rules and the right of speech. Now we lack talents who is not only proficient in English and know the International law and the Law of the Sea well, but also understand China’s diplomatic politics concerning the South China Sea. Presently, many international conferences involve the South China Sea dispute and we are short of talents to speak for China on these platforms. I began to learn English at 39 years old. I fully understand how hard it can be. Therefore, I want to tell you that learning English requires a lot of time, not only one or two days; you need to accumulate knowledge day by day. Compared with other Chinese colleges and universities, SUSTech really is far-sighted in English teaching.

It is very important to set up social sciences centers in universities of science and engineering

Reporter: Why is the education of humanities and social sciences important in talent cultivation of universities of science and engineering? What are your expectations on how SUSTech Social Sciences Center?

Wu Shicun: Foreign students are encouraged to ask questions and they can always interrupt teachers in class, while Chinese students fear to be asked to answer questions and do not dare to ask questions. When I studied for the first time in America, I was afraid to be called to answer questions by teachers because of my poor English. Later, someone complimented me on my English. Gradually I gained confidence and dared to ask teachers whenever I had a problem. It needs a process to accumulate experience and confidence. If you do not speak, you will never dare to speak. Therefore, to cultivate international talents, we must first teach the students to take initiative.

It is very important to set up a social sciences center in a university of science and engineering as with some social sciences knowledge, students can expand their mind. The newly formed SUSTech Social Sciences Center can be better planned and developed at the very beginning. Adopting the cultivation model of world-class universities, SUSTech recruits the best talents from abroad as teachers, which is quite correct. I believe President Chen Shiyi can build SUSTech into a world-class university in a relatively short time.

The key to a good school is its faculty and students. Students are the “products” schools “produce” for the society. I hope SUSTech Social Sciences Center could find a successful way through carrying out cooperative education and giving lectures to pass the knowledge we accumulate in past decades on to students.

Source: Students News Agency

Text: Diao Jinlong and Lan Qiao

Photograph: Su Jiahui