Arctic Governance and China’s First Arctic Policy: An UNCLOS Perspective

Unique geological and geographical characteristics and immense economic potential have made Arctic governance an issue of global attraction, as evidenced by China’s recently published first Arctic policy. One important part of Arctic governance is the UNCLOS, and China has to evaluate its Arctic involvement from the perspective of this treaty. While a number factors motivate China’s Arctic interests, the contemporary legal regime of Arctic governance is focused on respect for the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the Arctic States as well as the UNCLOS principles. On its journey to Arctic governance, China must comprehensively elaborate on its legal choices by thinking more carefully of the UNCLOS in order to reply to the comments or criticism from other countries.