On Development and Challenge of the Law of the Sea : For the Commemoration of 70th Anniversary of the Founding of the United Nations

At the time of the 70th Anniversary of Founding of United Nations, to review the legislation and development of laws of the sea of United Nations is significant and meaningful for establishing ocean security order. The main contribution of United Nations to laws of the sea is the legislation of four Geneva conventions on the law of the sea and United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea as well as establishment of its system. Their implementation contributes a lot to legal order of the sea. However, because United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is a product of compromise, its vagueness led to different understanding even opposite national practices during its implementation. Meanwhile, there arise some unexpected new ocean issues. All of those are challenges to United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. As a state party to United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, China faces a urgent and important task to improve its legal system of the sea according to the changed situation of the sea in order to ensure the implementation of national policies of the sea and maintenance of marine rights and interests