The Centre for Non-Traditional Security (NTS) Studies at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) organised the “RSIS Workshop on Revisiting Biological Weapons Convention’s Confidence-Building Measures: ASEAN Perspective” from 18 to 19 September 2025 at the Orchard Hotel, Singapore.

The workshop brought together 25 experts from diverse professional backgrounds including security, public health, academia, practitioners, and the biotechnology industry, to advance the Biological Weapons Convention’s (BWC) Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs) in Southeast Asia and the broader region, with attention to the region’s specific issues, norms, practices, and mechanisms.

The workshop examined the strengths and limitations of current CBMs and proposed ways in which existing ASEAN regional mechanisms can provide valuable lessons for strengthening BWC-related CBMs. Participants also highlighted the rapid growth of biotechnology and artificial intelligence, noting that current CBMs remain insufficient to address these emerging challenges and emphasising the urgent need to adapt BWC transparency measures accordingly.

In addition, the discussions pointed to the limited engagement of key stakeholders, including scientific communities, regional biorisk associations, and other relevant professional and societal networks, whose participation is essential for effective and sustainable CBM implementation.

With these issues in mind, several recommendations for adopting CBM-like mechanisms were proposed. Suggestions included conducting peer-review exercises that extend beyond joint research, development, and workshops, to include on-site evaluations; establishing a roster of BWC experts for the region, similar to the Chemical, Biological, Radiological (CBR) Network within the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM); and developing collaborative pathogen-inventory software. Participants also emphasised leveraging the upcoming ASEAN biosafety and biosecurity network to play a more regionally relevant role for Southeast Asia and beyond.