Influence of the Law of the Sea on the PRC’s Foreign Policy

The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 established the world order in the maritime space. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has become one of the main players in the international arena, so it seems relevant to study the influence of the international maritime law on the PRC’s foreign policy. This bachelor thesis studies the impact from two points of view: legal norms and policy implementation. In terms of legal norms, the international maritime law and the national maritime law of the PRC were studied and compared. In terms of policy implementation, the Chinese position in questions of territorial disputes in the South China Sea and China's policy in Arctic was considered. The analysis has showed that despite the disagreeing with some provisions, China accepted the UNCLOS. Moreover, the Chinese authorities have changed the national maritime law in accordance with international law. In implementing its maritime policy, the PRC mainly relies on the UNCLOS in order to maintain the image of a responsible state, which promotes stability in the world. However, sometimes Chinese authorities ignore and violate some provisions, because their implementation contradicts national interests of Chinese state. Violation of some provisions is also associated with their vague wording and the absence of coercive mechanisms.