The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea has greatly helped China lay a solid foundation for the management of its vast marine domain, said Wu Jinyou, an official with the State Oceanographic Administration yesterday.
Yesterday marked the 20th anniversary of the convention that China endorsed on May 15, 1996.
"The convention outlines the path on which China should carry out legislation in oceanographic administration," Wu said.
For example, the convention clearly defines key terms such as what a territorial sea, adjacent sea and an exclusive economic zone are.
The country has established and improved its sea-related laws based on the convention definitions and its own requirements for governmental regulation in fields such as maritime transport, sea mineral resources management and environmental protection, Wu added.
Chen Yue, an official in charge of the international department at the oceanographic administration, said the country's signing of the convention served as great momentum for the country's sea-related legislation.
"China's sincerity in fulfilling its commitments made by signing the convention has pushed the establishment of most of the country's existing laws and regulations," Chen said.
Before 1996, China only had two major sea-related laws - one for the protection of the marine environment and another for the management of territorial seas and contiguous seas.
The convention helped establish a complete sea-management legal system that has been largely completed, said Chen.
In addition to establishing laws related to the convention, China has also implemented a sea-use law unique to its situation.
"The signing of the convention six years ago showed the necessity of managing the sea as you would land. This new Law on Sea Use has enhanced this idea by asking people using the sea to pay rent to the country," Chen said.
The first batch of this rent is expected to be levied next year.
(China Daily December 5, 2002)
