Assessment Report on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea Puts Forward Three Recommendations

The Institute for Marine Development Strategy of the Ministry of Natural Resources of China recently released Chinese and English versions of the "Assessment Report on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea: Achievements, Positioning, and Challenges," putting forward three recommendations to the international community regarding the Convention’s role in contemporary ocean governance. The report holds that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea should be viewed objectively, comprehensively, and dialectically. Its historical achievements should be recognized, while the new problems exposed in the implementation process should also be addressed squarely, and the relationship between it and other international treaties relating to the sea as well as customary international law should be accurately understood. The report also recommends that relevant parties should interpret and apply the Convention completely, accurately, and in good faith, exercise rights and perform obligations in accordance with the law, and avoid practices such as distorting the provisions, abusing procedures, and exercising jurisdiction beyond authority. Third, the report advocates that all parties work together to practice true multilateralism, advance the implementation of the four major global initiatives, and improve the global ocean governance system in order to respond to the practical challenges in the implementation of the Convention.