In this talk, Peter will take us on a journey through the rich history and growing complexity of the South China Sea disputes—an issue that touches not only on territorial claims, but also the wider questions of peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

He’ll explore how this situation has developed over time, how it’s being handled today, and what paths might lead to easing tensions in the future.

To bring the story to life, the presentation will include a number of powerful images—some quite striking—showing real-world actions like artificial island building and other extraordinary maritime behaviours. After all, as the old saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Peter is a former Royal New Zealand Navy Commander with a rich career in maritime security, strategy, and education. Educated in England and having served at sea with the British India Steam Navigation Company, he later held key roles in the RNZN and New Zealand’s strategic and security community. He is well read and over many years has contributed peer reviewed articles in maritime strategy and nautical matters about the Indo-Pacific, he remains active in teaching,  writing, and contributing to maritime policy. He now lives in Motueka, building a boat and continuing his scholarly interests.