Western Pacific Naval Symposium Explained

The Western Pacific Naval Symposium are a series of biennial meetings of the Pacific nations to discuss naval matters held on even numbered years. A WPNS workshop is held on odd numbered years in between the symposiums.[1]

History

At the International Seapower Symposium in 1987 agreement was reached "to establish a forum where leaders of regional navies could meet to discuss cooperative initiatives". The first meeting was held in 1988.[2]

Member countries as of 2010: Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, France, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, People's Republic of China, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, United States of America, Vietnam. Observers: Bangladesh, India, Mexico, Peru, The United Kingdom.[3]

At the 2014 WPNS, agreement was reached on the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea.[4]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.navy.mi.th/wpns2013/ WPNS WORKSHOP 2013
  2. News: Fact Sheet: Background of the Western Pacific Naval Symposium, MCMEX, DIVEX and NMS . 25 March 2011 . www.mindef.gov.sg . . 17 May 2015.
  3. Web site: File Not Found.
  4. News: Member nations of Western Pacific Naval Symposium in China agree to maritime code of conduct. 16 May 2015. ABC News. 23 April 2014.