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Fossil fuels have been at the center of the geopolitical-energy nexus for decades. The emphasis is on how oil and gas influence the ways governments grow, interact, build alliances, and even wage war. But as the global energy economy and geopolitics evolve, offshore renewable
energy is becoming a significant driver of foreign affairs. Experts have concluded that renewable energy, with a significantly growing portion of the global energy mix, could have significant implications for geopolitics. This raises our attention to key questions such as (i) what major global
energy developments and their geopolitical implications for the region and the South China Sea are; (ii) how new infrastructure connectivity plans and maritime technological advancements will affect the offshore renewable energy supply chain; and (iii) how regional countries grasp emerging
opportunities to boost this nascent market. While renewable energy in the South China Sea could be a promising trend, it is noteworthy that territorial disputes, geopolitical competition, and the rise of energy alliances tend to downplay renewable resources and avert attention from them to territorial claims. This causes hesitation in regional states in harnessing their renewable energy for fear of geopolitical vulnerability and conflicts. Recent satellite photos also reveal that some countries are leveraging renewable energy as a competitive advantage over neighboring claimants in the South China Sea. Such developments point the panel towards two main issues. First, how will maritime security challenges affect the region’s energy supply chain? Second, what are the key drivers of energy competition and cooperation in the South China Sea, and how do they affect energy growth and regional stability?

Once the political will is established, the next key factor is backing it up with an effective legal framework. The LOSC plays an important role in offshore renewable energy. The freedoms, rights, and obligations of states with regard to the use of offshore energy resources in different maritime
zones are outlined in the LOSC. Additionally, it establishes restrictions on that use by requiring states to protect and preserve the marine environment, as well as take into consideration other competing uses of the oceans and the rights of other states. Here, the LOSC provides some jurisdictional clarity with regard to the governance of offshore renewable energy. However, there are no specific provisions in the LOSC dealing explicitly or exclusively with offshore renewable energy with the exception of Article 56 on the coastal state’s sovereign rights over the “production of energy from the water, currents, and winds”. Moreover, as offshore projects extend to the sea and involve transboundary aspects, states are faced with the additional challenges of creating international norms that accommodate different forms of offshore renewable energy, cross-border cooperation, and environmental concerns. From an investment standpoint, these legal uncertainties undoubtedly increase the risks and expenses of such projects.
This legal gap has led to suggestions for the negotiation of an additional protocol on energy to the LOSC, or the renegotiation of the LOSC altogether, to better address concerns regarding the development and deployment of offshore renewable energy technologies. As a result, a more
thorough analysis of relevant LOSC provisions is needed to determine whether LOSC provides a clear framework to facilitate the development of offshore renewable energy in different types of maritime zones. Additionally, ways to improve legal certainty and predictability, a decisive factor for attracting energy investors, should be discussed in the panel.

The offshore renewable industry is experiencing substantial early success in Asia, particularly political backing for offshore wind is on the rise. It means that offshore wind will be an important component of many national energy transformation plans. Out of the 157 offshore wind farms globally, around 105 are situated in Europe, while up to 50 are already operational in Asia. The recent significant increase in Asia is mainly attributable to China. Taiwan has already constructed the foundations of its offshore wind sector. Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam are anticipated to follow closely. Looking beyond Asia, the US and EU countries are leading the energy transition race. This encourages experts and scholars to share experiences and best practices behind the development of offshore renewable energy in Asia and worldwide. This sharing could help provide valuable lessons to countries in the region in developing their national projects on offshore renewable energy. Since most offshore renewable energy
technologies are still in their infancy, it would be interesting to see how coastal states could create communication channels to exchange ideas and experiences with a view to promoting wave and wind energy projects.

The growth of wind farms in the South China Sea is still slow compared to other regional seas. As of 2017, the South China Sea had only one wind farm under construction. Since 2018, the Guishan Offshore Wind Farm has been the only wind farm operating in the South China Sea, compared to, for example, 14 or more in the East China Sea. Numerous researchers have come to the same conclusion that renewable energy could stimulate regional cooperation by diminishing existing disputes and leading the South China Sea toward a sustainable and secure regional framework.
Experts and scholars are going to depict the broad link between renewable energy and regional cooperation in the South China Sea. The session will dive into specific issues such as: (i) how an abundant scope of renewable energy in the South China Sea could be the premise for bilateral and multilateral agreements among claimant states to increase cooperative sustainable development; (ii) the potential of the joint development of wave and wind energy to make up for limitations of technology and development cost in largescale offshore areas; and (iii) policy options to encourage investments in the renewable energy industry.