Zhihua Zheng, the Associate Researcher of the Center for Japanese Studies of Shanghai Jiao Tong University was invited to participate in the Ninth Round of "U.S.-China Track II Dialogue on Maritime Affairs & International Law"
On December 16-17th 2020, the National Committee on US-China Relations and the National Institute for South China Sea Studies jointly organized the Ninth round of the “U.S.-China Track II Dialogue on Maritime Affairs & International Law” Online Conference. More than 30 Experts and Representatives from the following Institutions, Organizations and Government Departments have attended this dialogue session: The National Institute for South China Sea Studies, Institute for China-America Studies, Peking University, Fudan University, Nanjing University, School of International Relations, Wuhan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Grandview Institution, Taiwan’s "Academia Sinica", the National Committee on US-China Relations, and the Office of the Legal Adviser of the United States Department of State, New York University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Hofstra University, University of Washington, Naval War College, CNA Corporation and Stanford University. Shicun Wu the President of the National Institute for South China Sea Studies and Orlins the President of the National Committee on US-China Relations, respectively delivered their speeches at the Opening ceremony. Experts from both China and the United States explore the issues over the South China Sea, the South China Sea policy under a Biden administration, Maritime Dispute Settlements Mechanisms and Legal trends, management of maritime disputes and escalated tensions in both the South China Sea and the East China Sea, the discussion of China and US Maritime rules making, the construction of Security Mechanisms, and Marine Governance and Ocean Management.
Zhihua Zheng the Associate Researcher of the Center for Japanese Studies of Shanghai Jiao Tong University was invited to participate in this dialogue discussion and gave speech based on the standards and root causes of the theory "Excessive Maritime Claims" raised by the United States. Zhihua Zheng believes that the so-called “Excessive Maritime Claims” have become a tool of legal warfare between China and the United States, but unfortunately the United States has not objectively analyze and discuss topics on the Historical Rights, the Legal Status of Islands and Reefs, Linear Baselines, and Freedom of Navigation. Throughout history, what is the reason behind that the United States, France, Britain, Australia, Japan and other countries can claim large areas of Maritime Jurisdiction. In particular, the area claimed by the United States and France both exceed 10 million square kilometers. The root cause is that these countries accessed their rights by claiming overseas territories since colonial period, can this essentially be regarded as a Historical Right? Countries including the United States and France claimed the maritime entitlements of 200 sea miles based on respective overseas territories, which are remote islands that are not inhabited and cannot maintain human habitation nor economic life. Isn't this be regarded as a more excessive maritime claim? In addition, regarding the issue of archipelago baselines and straight baselines, the United States seem to have double standard for Britain and France comparing to China. Abraham Sofaer and Ashley Roach the former Legal advisers of the US State Department, and Peter Dutton the Professor of Naval War College, had in-depth interactions and heated debates for the above issue discussed. Abraham Sofaer believes that the 21st century should be differentiated from the 18th and 19th centuries, and that mankind should have a more active and civilized ocean proposition instead of repeating the same mistakes.
The "U.S.-China Track II Dialogue on Maritime Affairs & International Law" was firstly initiated by the National Committee on US-China Relations and the National Institute for South China Sea Studies in October 2014. Till now, nine sessions have been held successfully. The dialogue has established an institutionalized platform for communication between the two countries regarding Maritime Policies, and has become one of the important channels for China’s public diplomacy interaction on maritime issues.
