On May 20, 2022, the thirty-ninth keynote speech of the “Fudan Transnational Corporations and Law Forum” was held successfully online. The speech entitled “The Impact of Marine Science and Technology on International Politics and the Law of the Sea Regime” was delivered byZHANG Haiwen, Director of the China Institute for Marine Affairs (CIMA), Ministry of Natural Resources of the People's Republic of China, commented by Professor ZHANG Xinjun of Tsinghua University Law School, and hosted by Professor CAI Congyan of Fudan University Law School.

Dr. ZHANG first emphasized the critical role of marine science and technology in promoting the construction of the modern landscape of world politics. The development of marine science and technology has provided important means for human to explore the ocean, and a scientific basis for the formulation of the law of the sea regime and the construction of marine order. It is one of the major factors that have advanced the establishment of many marine legal systems. Historically, the huge impact of marine science and technology can be demonstrated by the fact that it enabled the Great Navigation, changed the landscape of world politics, and built a world order and hegemonic discursive system dominated by Western powers.

Second, Dr. ZHANG believed that marine science and technology provide important fundamental conditions for forming contemporary rules of the international law of the sea. For example, the Great Navigation promoted the development of capitalism, leading to the establishment of the principle of freedom of the high seas, based on Grotius’s Mare Liberum, and the regeime of the territorial sea, based on John Seldon’s Mare Clausum. Another example is the theory of marine geology, which provides an important scientific basis for the establishment of legal regimes such as the continental shelf and the International Seabed Area.  

Lastly, Dr. ZHANG considered that the core of current competition among great powers lies in the high integration of marine science and technology with modern international politics and law. In particular, marine science and technology, together with scientists have played an increasingly critical role in making and implementing ocean-related International Conventions. Our country should pay more attention to this issue.

In the discussion session, Professor ZHANGXinjun contributed insightful comments from the perspectives of the interpretation of the law of the sea and how can relatively weaker countries restrain marine powers with more advanced marine science and technology.

On May 27, 2022, the Forum will host the fortieth keynote speech entitled “Exploring the Legal Means to Protect the Overseas Rights and Interests of Chinese Offshore Fishing Enterprises” by Professor ZHANG Yen-Chang of Dalian Maritime University Law school.