Hey there, globe-trotters! 🌎 China just made some waves 🌊 in the maritime world, and we've got the scoop. On Thursday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry called out the South China Sea arbitration, saying it misinterpreted and distorted the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). What's that all about? Let's dive in! 🏊♂️
Ma Xinmin, the big shot director-general of the Department of Treaty and Law, spilled the tea ☕ during an international symposium in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. The event was all about reviewing the South China Sea Arbitration Awards, and Ma didn't hold back.
He pointed out that outlying archipelagos of continental states (think of them as the distant island cousins 🏝️) are a special kind of national territory that's been recognized by international law for ages.
\"The legal status of archipelagos and their maritime rights are well-established principles that even predate UNCLOS,\" Ma said. Basically, he's saying these rules have been around before the convention was even a thing!
He emphasized that these rights are still regulated by customary international law alongside the convention. So, claims of \"convention supremacy\" or \"convention exclusivity\" are, in his words, a no-go. 🚫
Ma is urging everyone to give some serious respect 🙌 to customary international law and the sovereignty of countries with outlying archipelagos. He believes this is key to upholding the authority and integrity of international maritime laws and ensuring fairness and justice across the seas.
\"This attitude is essential for truly upholding the authority and integrity of international law of the sea and ensuring international fairness and justice,\" he wrapped up.
So, what's the takeaway? 🧐 China's making it clear that the old-school rules still matter and that interpretations should be fair and just. Stay tuned, ocean adventurers! 🌊
Reference(s):
China: South China Sea arbitration misinterprets, distorts UNCLOS
cgtn.com
