Research In The Issue Of Division Of The Donghai Sea Continent Shelf

The sea is rich in precious resources. In mid 20th Century, with the growth of science and technology, human's development and utilization of sea resources have become possible. Continental shelf, the sea area with abundant resources and comparatively easy for exploration, especially in term of significance in military, gradually becomes one of the hot points various countries vie for. Till now, many countries have entered into the bilateral continent shelf division agreements.China is a coastal country with a long coastline and with rich resources on continent shelf. But there is minor progress in term of continent shelf division between China and its neighbors and across countries which infect not only the bilateral relationship but also future exploration and utilization of sea. On 25 Dec., 2000, the Beibuwan Division Agreement was entered into between China and Vietnam which offers a sound start for China to solve sea area division issues with other countries.By referring to the achievements in geology and geography made by China's ocean experts on the Donghai Sea, absorbing the study theory of domestic and foreign ocean experts in continent shelf, by giving analysis of the continent shelf division issues between China, Japan and Korea, the International Law principle concerning continent shelf division, the historic background of Donghai Sea continent shelf, the continent shelf policies of China, Japan and Korea and present division condition, this article gives discussion on the countermeasures to be taken by China in term of division and also offers constructive suggestion in the angle of international politics, economics and natural resources exploration which will do good to future solution of such issues.