How the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea provides the legal framework within which all activities in the ocean and seas must be carried out.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (A historical perspective)
UN.org Originally prepared for the International Year of the Ocean, 1998
Links to the texts of the 1958 Geneva Conventions on the Law of the SeaConvention on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone, 1958Convention on the High Seas, 1958Convention on Fishing and Conservation of the Living Resources of the High Seas, 1958Convention on the Continental Shelf, 1958Optional Protocol of Signature concerning the Compulsory Settlement of Disputes, 1958
China’s alleged abuse of the world’s oceans was examined in recent studies into its vast fishing fleet, which is accused of destroying maritime ecosystems far from its shores and perpetuating the industry’s forced labor practices.
China-flagged ships on the high seas were involved in “theft on a grand scale, unrestricted warfare on natural resources,” said a report by the SeaLight project, which says it uses “commercially available technology to shed light on the maritime ‘gray zone.'”
Illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing by Chinese vessels was happening throughout the Asia-Pacific, including within other countries’ exclusive economic zones (EEZ), according to SeaLight, which is under Stanford’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation.
This interactive map tracks China’s growing maritime influence through investments in strategic overseas ports. Users can plot the location of each port and view satellite images alongside detailed information on the share of Chinese ownership, the total amount of Chinese investment, and the port’s suitability for use by the Chinese military.
The new container ship, OOCL Piraeus, docks at the Port of Piraeus in Greece in 2023. Xinhua via Getty Images
The China Overseas Ports interactive visualizes degrees of China’s overseas port ownership by types of investment across regions and time. It also evaluates the dual-use (commercial and military) potential of ports owned, constructed, or operated by Chinese entities. The database supporting this interactive includes 101 port projects of which Chinese entities have acquired varied equity ownership or operational stakes. China operates or has ownership in at least one port in every continent except Antarctica. Of the 101 projects, 92 are active, whereas the remaining 9 port projects have become inactive due to cancellation or suspension by the end of September 2023. Reasons for cancellation or suspension include environmental concerns, souring of political relations, financial problems, and security issues raised domestically and internationally. Suspended projects, such as China’s construction of the Khalifa Port in the United Arab Emirates, could resume construction.
92 Port projects total (port projects outside China with Chinese investment)
13 Port projects with majority Chinese ownership
10 Port projects with majority Chinese ownership where there is physical potential for naval use
Excludes cancelled port projectsChineseownership0–12.5%12.5–25%25–37.5%37.5–50%Over 50%The share of the port project that is owned by the Chinese government or Chinese companiesPhysicalpotential for naval useWhether the port project is located at a port that includes berths with enough depth for a naval vesselYesNoData is as of September 2023.
China’s predatory fishing fleets are denuding fish stocks and marine ecosystems on an unprecedented industrial scale. International collective action is urgently needed.
The desecration of maritime habitats and life-sustaining coral reefs is a clear and present threat at the hands of China’s massive fishing fleet. The maritime equivalent to poisoning a sovereign nation’s local farms, this threat has already had multi-generational impacts to the economy, climate and food supplies. Collaborative and bold solutions are imperative.
Admiral Linda Fagan, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, identified China as one of the prime culprits in illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, committing “theft of a nation’s natural resources.” Chinese fishing vessels steal coral for jewelry, giant clams for the ivory industry, and fish stocks to feed its own population. This is theft on a grand scale, unrestricted warfare on natural resources. The pilfering is happening across Asia, throughout the Pacific as far west as the Galapagos Islands, and off the West African coast, even within exclusive economic zones (EEZ) to which countries have a sovereign right to all natural resources.
Do not clam up on this issue just because it is only coral, clams and fish. Coral and giant clams are the life source of the ocean, easing the impacts of climate change, providing a protective breeding ground for fish, and serving as water filters. Giant clams increase the biodiversity of the coral which supports vital fisheries in the South China Sea. These fisheries account for 12% of the world’s catch and 28% of the protein to sustain human life in the region. The ongoing destruction at the hands of Chinese fishermen guarantees a loss of environmental and food security for future generations across the region.
US-China: Is A New NATO Emerging In Asia? | When Titans Clash 2 – Part 1/3 | CNA Documentary
CNA Insider – 29-4-2022
As the Ukraine crisis unfolds, China accuses the US of creating an Indo-Pacific version of NATO, and warns of a “Ukraine style tragedy” for Asia. On the other hand, countries like Japan, Philippines, India, Australia and South Korea, seek closer ties to the US as concerns emerge over China’s actions. Could Asia witness a war in the years ahead? Tiếp tục đọc “When titans clash 2 (3 parts)”→
China’s People’s Liberation Army celebrates its centenary in 2027, what are its goals for this date? The PLA is already the largest army in the world with over 2 million soldiers. It also has the biggest number of warships. But China’s defense budget is still climbing amidst increasing geopolitical tensions. How exactly is the PLA “preparing for Dangerous Storms” as tasked by President Xi?
Amidst rising tensions in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, the American military is set to expand its presence in the Philippines. The Marcos administration wants to increase the number of US forces in the country, by allowing Americans access to four additional military bases including Palawan and Cagayan, through the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). This move reverses the cooling US-Filipino ties under President Duterte. But the long, storied history between the two countries could complicate the return of US troops. At the same time, Chinese investments in the archipelago are in jeopardy, as Beijing protests the move. What is behind this troop buildup in the Philippines, and could this raise the temperature in the region, as China reacts to the growing American might at its doorstep?
As the two superpowers compete for dominance in the Pacific, Dena Takruri asks Filipinos how they feel being caught in the middle. Who is the bigger threat to the Philippines: the U.S. or China?
At the 56th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and its related meetings in Jakarta in July, it was announced that negotiations for the Code of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (COC) had achieved progress on two fronts. First, the second reading of the Single Draft COC Negotiating Text was completed. Second, a set of Guidelines for Accelerating the Early Conclusion of an Effective and Substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea was adopted at the Post Ministerial Conference 10+1 Meeting with China. As a matter of fact, these developments are rather more procedural (and perhaps political) than substantive.
Hiệp định về biển cả là văn kiện đầu tiên điều chỉnh toàn diện việc khai thác, chia sẻ lợi ích và bảo tồn nguồn gen biển tại các vùng biển quốc tế. Việt Nam là một trong những nước đầu tiên ký hiệp định trong khuôn khổ Tuần lễ cấp cao Đại hội đồng LHQ.
Bộ trưởng Bộ Ngoại giao Bùi Thanh Sơn ký Hiệp định về bảo tồn và sử dụng bền vững đa dạng sinh học ở vùng biển nằm ngoài quyền tài phán quốc gia – Ảnh: VGP
Sáng 20-9 (giờ New York, Mỹ), trong khuôn khổ hoạt động của Tuần lễ cấp cao Đại hội đồng Liên Hiệp Quốc khóa 78, Bộ trưởng Bộ Ngoại giao Bùi Thanh Sơn đã ký Hiệp định về bảo tồn và sử dụng bền vững đa dạng sinh học ở vùng biển nằm ngoài quyền tài phán quốc gia (Hiệp định về biển cả).
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son signs the High Sea Treaty, a United Nations agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. Photo by Thu HongVietnam on Wednesday signed the United Nations agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, the High Sea Treaty.
The signing by Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son made Vietnam one of the first countries to sign the international-legally binding instrument under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It conveyed the message that Vietnam is a positive and responsible member of the international community as well as the country’s efforts to join hands with countries to deal with global issues, contributing to peace, prosperity and sustainable development.
More than 60 countries are scheduled to sign the agreement during the underway high-level week of the 78th UN General Assembly.
CVD 