Study On The Application Of Legal Principles For The Delimitation Of The Outer Continental Shelf In The Arctic

With the rise of global temperatures,the melting of glaciers in the Arctic has become an irreversible fact,and the Arctic issue has attracted widespread attention from society.The issue of the ownership of abundant resources in the Arctic has become a hot topic,and with the advancement of science and technology,Arctic related countries are competing for resources.The continental shelf is precisely the carrier of marine resources,and most disputes over continental shelf delimitation within 200 nautical miles have been resolved through national agreements,while the issue of outer continental shelf delimitation is still unresolved.The delineation of the outer continental shelf not only concerns the interests of countries around the Arctic,but also involves the international seabed area of non Arctic countries.Therefore,it is urgent to solve the problem of delineating the outer continental shelf.The establishment of the outer limits of the continental shelf in the Arctic region is not only a "patent" of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf,but also the application of the principle of continental shelf delimitation is the only way to resolve disputes over delimitation.This article is divided into five chapters.The first chapter explains the theoretical basis of the principle of delineation of the outer continental shelf in the Arctic region,including the concept of the continental shelf,the particularity of the outer continental shelf in the Arctic region,the basic principles of continental shelf delineation,and their legal sources.The second chapter introduces the current status of disputes over the delimitation of the outer continental shelf in the Arctic region and the application of the delimitation principles,including the current status of disputes over the delimitation of the outer continental shelf in the Arctic region,the progress of delimitation,and the application of the principles.The third chapter explains the practice of countries and international jurisdictions in delineating the outer continental shelf,and provides reference significance for disputes over delineation of the outer continental shelf in the Arctic region.The forth chapter analyzes the problems in the application of the principle of delimitation of the outer continental shelf in the Arctic region,mainly including vague provisions on the application of the principle of delimitation,unclear attributes of ocean ridges that restrict the application of the principle of natural extension,changes in baselines and base points that affect the application of the principle of equidistance,different interpretations of the principle of fairness,and the impact of island effectiveness on its application;And analyzed the causes of the dilemma in the application of principles,namely based on different Arctic interests and the complex particularity of the seabed in the Arctic waters.The fifth chapter proposes specific solutions to the problems in the previous chapter,including clarifying the order and situation of the application of the delimitation principle,endowing the delimitation attributes of ocean ridges,formulating regional consultation treaties on base points and baseline changes,unifying the regional interpretation of the principle of fairness,and exerting the role of international judicial institutions in determining the effectiveness of islands;And on this basis,it has inspired China to determine the outer limits of the continental shelf based on the principle of natural extension,apply the principle of equal distance for special purposes,strengthen the application of the principle of fairness,and consider relevant situations when solving the problem of continental shelf delimitation.