Russia, China denounce US seabed expansion as unlawful

During a recent International Seabed Authority session in Kingston, Jamaica, Russian and Chinese officials voiced strong objections to recent US claims regarding the expansion of its continental shelf.

The US has sought to extend its rights over approximately 1 million square kilometers of seabed in the Bering Sea, Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Gulf of Mexico. Both Russia and China argue that these claims lack legal basis under international law and should be dismissed, Caiiber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The debate highlighted that the boundaries of underwater continental shelves are determined through a detailed international process established by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. This process is crucial for determining exclusive economic rights to seabed resources. Russia, Canada, and Denmark (representing Greenland) have submitted competing claims in the High Arctic as climate change increases access to these areas.

Russian officials criticized the US for jeopardizing international stability and undermining the convention's integrity due to its non-ratification of the UN Convention. Chinese representatives also condemned the US for attempting unilateral claims and emphasized that the resources of the international seabed are considered the common heritage of mankind. Beijing, which ratified the UN agreement in 1996, argued that any threats to this principle should not be tolerated.

The US representative, Gregory O’Brien, defended the claims, asserting they comply with the convention’s regulations. The session underscores growing geopolitical tensions, with Russia and China increasingly aligning on international issues, including the Arctic, while the US navigates these disputes amid evolving global dynamics.