There are two issues needed to be solved in the formulation of regulations on mineral exploitation in the international seabed area (Area): constructing commercial exploration mode under “Principle of Common Heritage of Mankind” and “ensuring effective protection of ocean environment”. International Seabed Authority (ISA) began to formulate regulations on mineral exploitation in the Area in 2012, the stakeholders have put forward their own proposals and suggestions. Potential exploitation parties believed impacts of deep-sea mining on environment is lower than that of land mining, therefore they insisted utilizing low tax rate to encourage the exploitation. Environment protection parties suggested deep-sea mining may seriously destroy ocean environment and thus advocated strict mandatory standard of supervision and compensation. China proposed two principles: balance between resources utilization and environment protection, balance between commercial exploration and sustainable development. Positive reply has been made for formulating regulations to maintain the rights and interests of our country.
何宗玉、林景高、杨保华、刘少军. 国际海底区域采矿规章制定的进展与主张[J]. 太平洋学报 ——官方网站, 2016, 24(10): 9-17.
HE Zongyu, LIN Jinggao, YANG Baohua, LIU Shaojun. The Progress and Viewpoints on the Development of the Regulations for Mineral Exploitation in the Area. , 2016, 24(10): 9-17.