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Unclos

All articles tagged with #unclos

world5 days ago•3 min saved

China accuses Dutch warship of provocation near Paracel Islands as Netherlands expands Indo-Pacific role

Beijing accused the Dutch frigate HNLMS De Ruyter of illegally intruding near the Paracel Islands and using warnings and electronic jamming, while the Dutch Defense Ministry says the ship operated lawfully under UNCLOS to strengthen regional ties. The incident follows a separate near-Philippines encounter and underscores the Netherlands’ growing Indo-Pacific naval activity amid China’s contested claims in the South China Sea, which persists despite a 2016 arbitration ruling that Beijing rejects.

via politico.eu|

#china #netherlands #paracel-islands

world9 days ago•13 min saved

Hormuz’s Warning: Asia’s Waterways Face a New Era of Vulnerability

Lynn Kuok argues that Iran’s coercive actions in the Strait of Hormuz demonstrate how modern, affordable tech enables weaker states to disrupt critical chokepoints, elevating risk for Asia’s sea lanes such as Malacca, the Taiwan Strait, and Luzon. A disruption could trigger global trade and semiconductor supply shocks, prompting a broader strategic contest across the Indo-Pacific. The piece urges the United States and allies to boost maritime awareness, deter disruption through coordinated transit protection, develop secondary ports and routes, diversify semiconductor production, and push to join UNCLOS to reinforce lawful transit. Ultimately, Hormuz acts as a blueprint for envisioning and mitigating similar pressures on Asia’s waterways.

via Foreign Affairs|

#hormuz-strait #indo-pacific #maritime-chokepoints

world13 days ago•9 min saved

Diplomacy stalls as Iran asserts control of Strait of Hormuz amid US-Israel strikes threat

Iran’s latest counterproposal remains noncommittal on suspending enrichment or surrendering its HEU, keeping US demands in place as diplomacy stalls and regional leaders press for a negotiated pause. President Trump canceled a planned May 19 strike after Gulf leaders urged delay but kept military forces on standby for a large-scale option. Tehran is formalizing control over transit through the Strait of Hormuz via the Persian Gulf Strait Authority, challenging UNCLOS interpretations and signaling closer management of the waterway, including potential limits on critical cables. CENTCOM reports 85 commercial vessels redirected and four disabled since mid-April, while Israeli strikes against Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Lebanon continue and Iranian-backed Iraqi militias conduct drone attacks against Gulf states, reflecting a volatile mix of diplomacy and coercion amid ongoing talks.

via Institute for the Study of War|

#iran #pgsa #strait-of-hormuz

world2 months ago•12 min saved

Hormuz Crisis Tests International Law and Global Shipping

Iran’s attacks on neutral shipping and potential mining of the Strait of Hormuz threaten a critical global shipping lane. The strait is an international waterway governed by transit passage under UNCLOS, but enforcement is difficult when a coastal state violates the rules. Naval mining would violate customary law and Hague VIII provisions intended to protect neutral transit, and demining would be extremely challenging, especially as the U.S. Navy phases out dedicated minesweepers in favor of untested counter‑mine methods. A multinational escort approach may be needed, though politically and logistically complex. The crisis exposes a gap between strong doctrine protecting transit passage and weak enforcement in practice, underscoring the need for diplomacy and allied cooperation to keep the Strait open.

via Just Security|

#international-law #naval-mines #strait-of-hormuz

news4 months ago•49 min saved

Trump accelerates deep-sea mining push, drawing global backlash

The Trump administration unveiled a consolidated permitting process to search for and commercially extract minerals on the deep seabed, including areas beyond national jurisdiction, and shortened environmental reviews by allowing exploration and recovery licenses to be filed together. The move, framed as countering China’s influence, has sparked international and scientific condemnation for potentially bypassing UNCLOS/ISA rules and risking unknown impacts on oceans and coastal communities, even as some companies pledge not to source from the deep sea.

via The Verge|

#deep-sea-mining #executive-order #international-seabed-authority

international-relations1 year ago•4 min saved

Tensions Rise as China and Philippines Clash Over Maritime Laws

China has released a new map asserting its claims over disputed territories in the South China Sea, including the Scarborough Shoal, which lies within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. This move has heightened tensions with the Philippines, a U.S. ally, which recently passed laws to define its maritime boundaries. The U.S. supports the Philippines' stance, urging adherence to international maritime law. China's claims, rejected by a 2016 international tribunal, continue to be a point of contention, raising concerns of potential conflict.

via Newsweek|

#china #international-relations #philippines

international-relations2 years ago•4 min saved

China's Bold Response to US Naval Incursion in South China Sea

China has returned to its aggressive "wolf warrior" diplomacy by condemning the US for the alleged illegal entry of a warship into waters claimed by China in the South China Sea. This move comes despite recent improvements in China-Australia relations and is seen as a ratcheting up of pressure to support China's spurious claims over the Nine-Dash Line. China's assertiveness has been counterproductive, pushing countries in the region to align more with the US. China accused the US of unlawful maritime navigation, but its claims to the Nine-Dash Line have been dismissed by a tribunal operating under UNCLOS. The Chinese reaction is seen as an attempt to intimidate, but the real source of instability lies in the provocative behavior of PLA forces in the South China Sea.

via Breaking Defense|

#china #international-relations #south-china-sea

international-relations2 years ago•7 min saved

China's Claim to the South China Sea: Unraveling the Motives

China claims almost the entire South China Sea based on its "nine-dash line", despite an international tribunal ruling in 2016 that the line has no legal basis. The line, featured in China's national map, allows Beijing to assert its "maritime territorialization" and justify its exceptionalism. China's historical claim to the South China Sea dates back centuries, but it has faced challenges from Western explorers and neighboring countries. The dispute over the South China Sea is fueled by its strategic importance as a major trade route and potential oil and gas deposits. Despite an arbitration ruling in favor of the Philippines, China continues to assert its sovereignty and build islands in the disputed waters, leading to increasing tensions with neighboring countries.

via Al Jazeera English|

#china #international-relations #maritime-dispute

international-relations2 years ago•3 min saved

China's Expanding Territorial Claims Spark International Protests

Malaysia has rejected China's latest edition of the 'standard map of China' that claims almost the entire South China Sea, including areas off the coast of Malaysian Borneo. Tensions have been rising as China becomes more assertive in its claims, despite a 2016 international court ruling against its 'nine-dash line'. Malaysia, along with other claimants such as the Philippines and Vietnam, does not recognize China's claims and urges dialogue and adherence to international law, including UNCLOS. India has also protested against the map, which shows disputed territories as Chinese territory.

via Al Jazeera English|

#china #international-relations #malaysia