Youth in Southeast Asia look to China for better ocean governance, new report says

Marine environment is the most widely shared day-to-day concern among Southeast Asian youth, and they hope China and other countries will prioritize the protection of marine life and habitats, according to a new report released on November 8 by China Media Group (CMG).

The report, named Report on Southeast Asian Youth Perspectives on Ocean Issues, combines big data analysis with questionnaire surveys to present the concerns and expectations of young people in the region regarding ocean issues, with a focus on people aged 18 to 35 in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Of those surveyed, 67.5% are highly concerned about marine litter and coastal pollution, while 65.9% are concerned about the protection of marine life and coral reefs. Maritime security is also closely linked to the economy and people’s livelihoods: 89.8% of respondents worry that disruptions to shipping could drive up the prices of goods or energy.

Young people mainly obtain information about ocean issues through social media and video platforms. When verifying information, however, 40.3% of respondents place the most trust in marine research and educational institutions and experts.

The report finds that positive public attitudes among Southeast Asian youth provide a foundation for maritime cooperation with China. Of those surveyed, 79.4% are willing to take part in China-ASEAN youth exchanges on ocean issues. More than 60% hope for cooperation with China on marine environmental protection, and more than 60% on maritime security.

Beyond specific areas of cooperation, Southeast Asian youth are also concerned about broader issues of ocean governance and look to China to shoulder greater responsibilities and play a larger role in global ocean governance.

On global ocean governance, the report pays particular attention to young people’s attitudes following the entry into force of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement). Among the areas in which respondents hope China and other countries will prioritize cooperation under the BBNJ Agreement, protecting marine life and habitats ranks first, at 54.1%. This is followed by joint research on marine life and the sharing of findings and data, and then by marine technology training for developing countries, among other areas.

The report was released by CMG's Global Chinese Program Center and the CMG Research Institute. Academic support for the report was provided by the Institute of Regional and Country-specific Communication at Communication University of China and the Global Opinion Research Center at Renmin University of China.