Senior Chinese diplomat takes swipe at US over deep-sea mining strategy

Abiding by international law is the only path to peace and sustainable development at sea, China’s foreign vice-minister Hua Chunying said on Monday in a veiled swipe at the US over its unilateral exploitation of seabed minerals.

“The oceans are not calm. Certain countries have resorted to the unlawful use of force at sea under various pretexts, posing a serious threat to regional peace and security,” Hua said on Monday.

She was delivering opening remarks at a forum in Beijing focused on international ocean dispute resolution and international law.

“Some have unilaterally enacted and implemented ‘deep-sea mining regulations’, eroding the common heritage of humankind,” the vice-minister said, alluding to an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump in April.

Washington sees deep-sea mining as a strategic counter to China’s dominance in critical minerals, targeting vast reserves contained in potato-sized nodules on the seabed beyond the legal jurisdiction of individual countries.

By directing agencies to streamline exploration and mining permits, Trump’s order allows American private companies to pursue deep-sea mining in areas beyond US jurisdiction without prior approval from the United Nations.

South China Morning Post