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GENERAL

1. The 2017 Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) Workshop was held at the Sheraton Santiago Hotel & Convention Center in Santiago, Chile, from 24 to 27 April 2017. The workshop was chaired by Rear Admiral Guillermo Lttges, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Chilean Navy. 2. A full list of delegates is at Enclosure 1. Navies not represented at the 2017 WPNS Workshop were the Tongan Navy, the Royal Brunei Navy, the Cambodian Navy, and the PNG Defense Force.

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WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION 3. Rear Admiral Guillermo Lttges, Chairman of the Workshop, welcomed delegates and thanked them for travelling to Chile to participate in the 2017 Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) Workshop. He conveyed his regards to the representatives from Australia and New Zealand on occasion of their National Memorial Day, and congratulated the Colombian Navy and Royal Navy on their new status as WPNS observers. 4. In his opening remarks, RAdm Lttges underlined the importance of working together to effectively respond together in crisis, and to help maintain the security, stability and prosperity in todays world. He concluded by noting that the open exchange of ideas and experiences at the workshop would serve to promote maritime cooperation, international relationships, and mutual understanding. 5. The master of ceremonies introduced a safety brief video with information in case of an emergency, and then introduced Vice Admiral Jos Miguel Rivera, Chief of Staff of the Chilean Navy, who delivered welcoming remarks. 6. VAdm Rivera welcomed the group noting that a strong cooperation between nations and their navies is crucial to successfully meet the challenges posed by the Pacific Ocean. He recalled that the WPNS has provided the international naval community with an opportunity to discuss key maritime issues, contributing to common understanding and agreement. He also hoped that the workshop would

WESTERN PACIFIC NAVAL SYMPOSIUM (WPNS)

WORKSHOP

SANTIAGO, CHILE

24 27 APRIL 2017

MINUTES

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serve as a space for the productive exchange of information. To conclude, RAdm Rivera spoke of the impact of climate change on the countries in the Pacific, and thanked the governments of Colombia, the United States, France, Mexico, Peru, and Russia for their invaluable support during the wildfires of last January 2017. 7. Captain Soto invited the Heads of Delegations to introduce themselves.

REVIEW AGENDA FOR THE WORKSHOP 8. The secretary gave a brief overview of the agenda for the workshop, including scheduled activities and matters to be discussed. The complete agenda is at Enclosure 2. Conclusion: The agenda was reviewed and approved.

REVIEW MINUTES OF THE 2016 WPNS WORKSHOP 9. Captain Erwin S. Aldedharma from the Indonesian Navy reviewed the minutes from the 2016 WPNS Workshop held in Jakarta, Indonesia, from 2627 January 2016. The workshop was attended by 48 representatives from 20 WPNS members, 3 observers and 2 applicant observers. Countries not represented at the event were Tonga and Mexico. The minutes were reviewed as follows:

a. Business arising from previous meeting:

WPNS Disaster Response Operations Guide (DROG) presented by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

Proposal on the Use of CUES by National Coastguards; Delay of MCMEX/DIVEX 2016, Creation of an Standing WPNS Coalition Task Group presented by the United States Navy.

Junior Officer Interaction Program (JOIP) Terms of Reference (TOR) presented by the Royal Malaysian Navy.

Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES) Working Group Proposal presented by France.

b. Report on WPNS activities (2014-2015):

JMSDF Exchange Initiative for Next Generation (EING): Ship Rider Program WPNS-STEP 2015, Ship Rider Program 2016 and WPNS-STEP 2016.

International Maritime Security Conference (IMSC) 2015, 5th Maritime Information Sharing Exercise (MARISX)/ Ex Bell Buoy and 5th WPNS Multilateral Sea Exercise (WMSX)

Western Pacific Mine Counter Measures Exercise 2015.

Environmental Working Group

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c. Confirmation of future WPNS activities:

15th WPNS Symposium 2016

WPNS Senior Enlisted Leaders WG 2016 hosted by the Royal New Zealand Navy.

Naval Medicine Seminar 2016 hosted by the PLA Navy.

WPNS Workshop in Chile 2017

MCMEX/DIVEX 2017 hosted by the United States Navy. Date TBC

WPNS Senior Enlisted Leaders WG 2017 hosted By Papua New Guinea Defense Forces in September 2017.

d. Discussion of other matters:

Update Asia Pacific Advanced Network (APAN) and Maritime Exchange Information Directory (MIED) presented by the United States Navy.

Increasing Regional Naval Power and Contribution to Maritime Security presented by Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.

Updates on ADMM Plus Maritime Security and Counter-Terrorism Exercise presented by the Royal Brunei Navy (May 2016).

Pacific Reach Exercise presented by the ROK Navy. (June 2016).

Submarine Operational Safety presented by the Republic of Singapore Navy.

Regional Maritime Cooperation presented by the Indonesian Navy.

e. Other highlights of the event: Royal Navy and Colombian Navy application as WPNS Observers. At the 2016 WPNS Workshop, participants unanimously supported the Royal Navy and Colombian Navys application as WPNS observers. This application would be tabled for endorsement at the WPNS 2016.

Conclusion: the Minutes of the WPNS Workshop 2016 were approved.

BUSINESS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MEETING:

WPNS Disaster Response Guide (DRG) - Royal Australian Navy

10. Lieutenant Commander Rowena Gaffney from the Royal Australian Navy delivered a presentation on the Disaster Response Guide Updated Version, covering the documents background, current status, contents, and summary of changes. 11. She described the various stages in the preparation of the document, and spoke of the additions and revisions made, and the feedback incorporated to the document.

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12. She then highlighted that the DRG is a living document, and provided a copy of the latest version to each participating delegation (including a Summary of Changes), with the feedback received from other nations (lessons learned). 13. LCDR Gaffney provided a brief overview of the contents of the Disaster Response Guide and its annexes. 14. Lessons learned from the Chilean Navy and the Royal New Zealand Navy were received and incorporated in the DRG latest version. To conclude, LCDR Gaffney sought for comments. 15. The delegate from the Indian Navy asked to clarify the extent of the naval assets covered in Annex B. LCDR Gaffney explained that it is a general information annex not a detailed list of assets. 16. The head of the RCN delegation asked for confirmation that the document will be retained in the APAN website, to which she replied that it has already been uploaded to the website. 17. CAPT Hong Zheng from PLA Navy thanked the RAN for their work with the document, and made two suggestions: first, that the definition of Humanitarian Assistance in the Glossary be aligned with the definition from the Oslo Guidelines. The new definition should be more authoritative. Second, she suggested to add two humanitarian principles: to respect sovereignty and that assistance should be provided with the consent of the affected nation, and that foreign military forces should be under the command of the affected nation and assistance should be provided at no cost. 18. The Head of the Republic of Singapore Navy thanked Australia for their efforts, and mentioned that they had already provided their insights and expressed their full support to the document. 19. The delegate from the Indian Navy will provide feedback on HA/DR to be included in the guide. 20. The Secretary of the Workshop said that he understands the living nature of the document and thanked LCDR Gaffney for her work. He also asked delegates if any nation had already used the DRG and had any experience to share. 21. LCDR Gaffney said that Australia had used the Guide in Vanuatu during a humanitarian assistance operation. 22. The Head of the RAN Delegation emphasized the importance of drawing a line to complete the Guide so that it can be tabled for endorsement at the 2018 Symposium.

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Conclusion: The Secretary set the date: 30 July 2017 as the deadline to submit any feedback for the final version can be approved at the 2018 Workshop and tabled for discussion by the Chiefs at the 2018 WPNS in Korea. (A1)

REPORT ON PAST WPNS ACTIVITIES 15th Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) hosted by the Indonesian Navy 23. Captain Erwin Aldedharma from the Indonesian Navy reviewed the Minutes of the WPNS Symposium held in Padang, Indonesia, from 13 14 April 2016, under the theme Maritime Partnership for Stability in Western Pacific Region. The symposium was attended by 99 representatives from 20 WPNS country members and 6 WPNS observers. The Tongan Navy and Mexican Navy were absent.

Minutes were reviewed as follows: a. Business arising from previous meeting:

Endorsement of the Colombian Navy and the Royal Navy as WPNS observers (Colombia and the UK);

Endorsement of the establishment of CUES Steering Committee with the aforementioned leader and members and leader (France Navy);

TOR of JOIP was approved and planned to host the inaugural WPNS JOIP in November 2016 (RMN).

b. Report on activities (2016-2017):

WPNS Senior Enlisted Leaders WG Nov. 2016 (Auckland, RNZN);

Naval Medicine Seminar June 2016 (Shanghai, PLA Navy);

WPNS Workshop 2017 (Santiago, Chilean Navy).

c. Confirmation of other activities:

6th Maritime Info-Sharing Exercise &am