Joint Development Of Systems And The Issue Of Nansha

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS ) established Continental Shelf and Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) regimes and extended maritime jurisdiction of costal states to 200 miles, which created numerous overlapping Continental Shelf and EEZ claims in various parts of the oceans while offering states new opportunities for joint development on marine resources in trans-boundary or overlapping areas.Joint Development can be defined as a joint exploration and exploitation system of marine resources that lie in trans-boundary or overlapping claims areas through agreements between states with opposite or adjacent coasts. With the development of international law, the concept of Joint Development was accepted by more states and developed by practices.China and neighboring states have disputes on the sovereignty of Nansha Islands, which makes maritime boundary delimitation in that area more complicated. China is an active initiator and supporter of Carrying out Joint Development while Shelving Disputes policy. There is possibility and feasibility for Nansha Joint Development. The author of this essay believes that Carrying out Joint Development while Shelving Disputes is the most feasible approach on Nansha question for the moment and he put forward constructive suggestions concerning Nansha Joint Development.