NAVAL COMMAND COLLEGE (NCC), NANJING, People’s Republic of China, Thursday, 18 January 2024 – The Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) participated in the Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) Workshop 2024 which was hosted by the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA-N) under the theme of “Maritime Community with a Shared Future”. The workshop was held at the PLA-N Command College in Nanjing, People’s Republic of China from Monday, 15th January 2024 until Thursday, 18th January 2024. Representing the Royal Brunei Navy were Commander Mohammad Nazrin bin Haji Sabli, Commanding Officer Base and Lieutenant Commander Abu Qusyairi bin Haji Yacob, Staff Officer Grade 2 Planning.
This year, 30 navies participated this year’s WPNS workshop consisting of 23 WPNS members: Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Columbia, Fiji, France, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, USA and Vietnam, and seven (06) observer nations: Bangladesh, Colombia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom. The Netherlands was also in attendance for the observer state application processes.
Rear Admiral Li Han Jun, Commandant of NCC cum Chairman of the Workshop officiated the opening of WPNS Workshop 2024 who highlighted the importance of the platform in promoting regional maritime security through joint efforts and contribution from all members. The workshop aimed to discuss WPNS agendas such as the business charter and Codes of Unexpected Encounters at Sea including the idea of integrating unmanned/uncrewed systems within the document. The workshop items will be deliberated during the 19th WPNS Plenary session on 21 – 24 April 2024 held in Qingdao, People’s Republic of China. It is also held on those dates to commemorate the 75th anniversary of PLA-N.
RBN was one of the first members of WPNS since its inception in 1988 and last held the Workshop in 2019 in Brunei Darussalam. The involvement of RBN shows commitment and steadfastness in working closely with members and observers’ nations through diplomatic means to ensure the maritime areas remain secure and regulated within the Western Pacific Region. This multilateral platform fosters trust amongst members and enhanced capacity building through dialogues and discussions between navies for the benefit of a secured and safe maritime landscape.
