Marine Eco-Environmental Protection in China

VII. Carrying Out All-Round International Cooperation on Marine Eco-Environmental Protection

Marine issues are global issues, and protecting the marine eco-environment is a common concern for people all over the world. In 1972, the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment adopted the Declaration on the Human Environment, which included conservation of the marine environment in its 26 principles and initiated global action on marine environmental protection. In 1982, the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea adopted the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), opening a new chapter in global marine governance and providing comprehensive and systematic provisions for marine environmental protection.

The international community has steadily advanced global ocean protection by establishing a series of marine environmental protection agreements. Countries around the world are building consensus and working in synergy to address the risks and challenges facing the marine eco-environment, striving to make the oceans clean and beautiful.

China is committed to the vision of a maritime community of shared future, and conducts in-depth mutually beneficial cooperation with the international community through multiple channels and in various forms, contributing Chinese wisdom to global marine eco-environmental protection.

1. Actively fulfilling obligations and participating in global governance

To promote the wellbeing of humanity, China actively plays its role as a major country, and diligently fulfills its responsibilities and obligations under international maritime conventions through concrete action.

Diligently fulfilling its responsibilities and obligations under international maritime conventions. The marine eco-environment encompasses topics in a wide range of areas. China supports advancing global marine eco-environmental protection through a holistic approach, and actively promotes the implementation of UNCLOS and other international conventions concerning the sea.

In May 1996, China ratified and became a party to UNCLOS, opening a new chapter in the country's participation in global maritime governance. In addition, China has demonstrated its determination and commitment to marine protection in broader and more detailed areas by joining more than 30 multilateral treaties related to oceans, including the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, and the Antarctic Treaty.

Under the framework of international conventions, China has established a policy system surrounding marine eco-environmental protection, resource conservation, and management of polar activities. It carries out voluntary fishing moratoriums on high seas and fulfills its environmental protection obligations, including performing environmental impact assessment for its Antarctic expeditions.

China has also participated in the UN regular assessment of the state of the global marine environment, and released regular progress reports on the implementation of the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, national reports on the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity, and national communications on climate change, presenting to the international community China's actions and progress in marine eco-environmental protection and resource conservation, and making tangible contributions by fulfilling its obligations under various conventions.

Integrating into and promoting global ocean governance. China actively participates in the establishment of global maritime governance mechanisms and promotes a more just and reasonable global maritime governance system. It works hard to integrate into multilateral governance, and actively participates in the affairs of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO-IOC), the International Seabed Authority (ISA), and the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

China plays an active role in the Conference of the Parties to the UNCLOS, the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM), and other agendas. Since 2012, China has submitted more than 120 proposals, independently or jointly, to relevant polar international organizations, and over 700 proposals to the IMO and other international organizations, engaging itself extensively in the formulation of relevant rules and regulations for environmental protection and resource conservation.

It has advanced the formulation of ISA's regulations on exploration and development, the negotiation of agreements and regulations on fisheries under the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO), the negotiation of an internationally legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, and other multilateral processes. China was also heavily involved in the negotiation and implementation of the Agreement to Prevent Unregulated High Seas Fisheries in the Central Arctic Ocean, and contributed significantly to the negotiations on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) and its signing as a treaty, which took nearly 20 years to reach consensus. Overall, China has made an outstanding contribution to global ocean governance.

2. Expanding "circle of friends" for maritime cooperation

Addressing global marine eco-environmental issues remains a long-term and arduous task that requires extensive global participation and collaborative efforts. China upholds multilateralism, and has developed blue partnerships through an open and pragmatic approach. It works with the international community to build a sea of prosperity and beauty for all countries.

Building extensive blue partnerships. On a voluntary and cooperative basis, China has worked with other countries to establish a global blue partnership characterized by consultation and joint contribution. In 2017, China called for building a blue partnership at the first UN Ocean Conference, designed to promote international cooperation on “cherishing our ocean and protecting our blue home”. The proposal was then made formal with China announcing the Vision for Maritime Cooperation Under the Belt and Road Initiative.

In September 2021, "actively promoting the establishment of a blue partnership" was designated by the High-level Dialogue on Global Development as one of the specific measures taken by China under the framework of the Global Development Initiative (GDI). At the 2022 UN Ocean Conference, China released the Blue Partnership Principles and launched the Sustainable Blue Partnership Cooperation Network and the Blue Partnership Fund, for joint action in the protection and sustainable utilization of the sea and its resources.

Currently, China has signed intergovernmental and interdepartmental agreements on marine cooperation with more than 50 countries and international organizations participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, contributing significantly to cooperation on global marine eco-environmental protection.

Expanding platforms and mechanisms for maritime cooperation. China prioritizes marine eco-environmental protection as a key area of cooperation, taking the initiative to establish new platforms and mechanisms and build consensus among all parties. Leading cooperation with platform building as the foundation, China has taken a lead in establishing and operating the East Asia Marine Cooperation Platform and the China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation Center. These platforms conduct practical cooperation with East Asian and ASEAN countries on marine scientific research, eco-environmental protection, and disaster prevention and mitigation.

It has built relevant mechanisms for international organizations in China, including the APEC Marine Sustainable Development Center and the United Nations Decade Collaborative Center on Ocean-Climate Nexus, coordinating global innovation and cooperation in the ocean and climate fields, facilitating the sharing and exchanges of beneficial experience in marine eco-environmental protection, and playing an important role in jointly protecting the marine ecosystems.

Advocating and guiding bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Championing the principle of planning together, building together and benefiting together, China has continued to expand areas of international cooperation, conducting dialogue and exchanges on multilateral platforms.

It has held the Thematic Forum on Maritime Cooperation of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, the World Coastal Forum, the Eco Forum Global Guiyang, and the China-ASEAN Environmental Cooperation Forum, advancing cooperation towards new progress in eco-environmental protection and restoration, disaster monitoring and early warning, and marine plastic pollution prevention and control.

China attaches great importance to mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation between countries, and has established long-term bilateral cooperation mechanisms with many countries in many fields. It actively provides technical support to other developing countries, and has established joint marine research centers, laboratories, and observation stations with Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nigeria, Mozambique, and Jamaica, playing a positive role in strengthening marine eco-environmental protection in other developing countries.

China works with other countries to carry out research on endangered marine species, joint environmental surveys in the Yellow Sea, coral reef monitoring and data collection, and prevention and control of marine litter and microplastic pollution. The results from these programs have injected more impetus to regional marine eco-environmental protection.

3. Expanding cooperation in deep-sea and polar scientific expedition

Protecting deep-sea and polar eco-environments is the common responsibility of humanity. As an important participant, vigorous promoter, and active practitioner in deep-sea and polar affairs, China takes a leading role in international deep-sea and polar exploration and research, working together with the international community to promote sustainable development of these regions.

Jointly advancing deep-sea research and exploration. China actively takes part in international seabed affairs, coordinates deep-sea surveys, and strengthens the protection of the deep-sea eco-environment. It has conducted more than 80 scientific research voyages in the deep sea, going on joint scientific expeditions with Russia, Japan, Nigeria, Seychelles, and Indonesia, and contributing to a better understanding of deep-sea ecosystems.

For more than 10 consecutive years since 2011, based on its studies in the field of earth science, China has submitted seabed naming proposals to the Sub-Committee on Undersea Feature Names (SCUFN), of which 261 have been approved, contributing to a clearer understanding of the deep-sea geography. Based on the results of its investigation of deep-sea biological resources, China has also set up a marine microorganism bank that leads the world in inventory and number of species, helping humans to expand their understanding of biological life processes in the deep sea.

Jointly expanding understanding of polar regions. China is committed to protecting the natural environment of the North and South Poles in accordance with international law, and actively participates in international cooperation to address environmental challenges and climate change for these regions. At the 40th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM), China took the lead in jointly proposing the Green Expedition Initiative with more than ten countries, and the initiative was ultimately passed as a resolution to open a new chapter of Antarctic expedition.

China has built five Antarctic research stations, and two Arctic research stations in Norway and Iceland, which serve as important platforms for several thousand scientists to carry out polar observation, biological monitoring, and glacier research. Additionally, it has organized 13 scientific expeditions in the Arctic Ocean and 40 in the Antarctic, while signing memorandums of understanding or joint statements with the United States, Russia, Australia, Iceland, and New Zealand and carrying out international cooperation with more than 10 countries.

It is a key participant in the Multidisciplinary Drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) – the largest Arctic scientific research program – and plays a leading role in advancing international cooperation on the Joint Arctic Scientific Middle-Ocean Ridge Insight Expedition (JASMInE). China works with other countries to undertake the tasks of the Antarctic RINGS (Ice Sheet Margin) Action Group under the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), and has made positive contributions to a deeper understanding of polar regions on global marine ecosystems.

4. Providing extensive foreign assistance and training

Facing a deteriorating marine eco-environment, all countries are members of a community of shared future. China stands in solidarity with the international community and carries out cooperation with it. While pursuing its own development, it also brings more benefits to other countries and peoples, contributing its share to global marine eco-environmental protection.

Providing extensive foreign assistance. China has provided support and assistance to the best of its ability to other developing countries in addressing marine eco-environmental issues through various means. In 2012, it launched the Marine Scholarship of China program, which has enabled over 300 students from 45 countries, including Belt and Road partners, to obtain master's or doctoral degrees in oceanographyand other related fields, helping other developing countries to cultivate professionals in marine sciences and management. It has provided technical assistance in marine spatial planning, marine economic planning, and sea level rise assessment to Thailand, Cambodia, and Cape Verde, and has held workshops on ocean dumping management technology under the London Convention and its 1996 Protocol, to help grow an awareness of the sea and provide the technology for marine eco-environmental protection for African and Latin American nations.

Actively carrying out foreign training. In order to provide a platform for marine education, training, and public awareness in developing countries, China has established several education centers, including the China-ISA Joint Training and Research Center, the China Western Pacific Center of the International Ocean Institute (IOC), the IOC Regional Training and Research Center on Ocean Dynamics and Climate (ODC), and the Tianjin Regional Training Center of the Ocean Teacher Global Academy (OTGA).

As a positive contributor to improving the technical capabilities of scientific researchers in related fields in developing countries, it hosts various events in which participants share knowledge and practical experience on integrated coastal zone management, ocean governance, and marine eco-environmental protection, and provides training in this field for about 500 people every year.