The Manila Dialogue on the South China Sea 2025

The Manila Dialogue on the South China Sea convened from November 5–7, 2025, reinforcing the region’s shared commitment to a free, open, and rules-based maritime order.

The forum gathered leading foreign policy experts, academics, and thought leaders from Southeast Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific. As an annual Track 1.5 initiative, the dialogue focused on upholding international law and advancing practical, actionable policy solutions for littoral states bordering the South China Sea, as well as other involved state and non-state actors.

Through in-depth discussions, participants put forward innovative ideas and policy recommendations aimed at ensuring that disputes are addressed through the rule of law rather than coercion or force, thereby strengthening regional peace and stability.