Study: China could sanction US over illegal seabed mining plans
A study by a Chinese international law professor suggests China could join coordinated countermeasures, including sanctions, if the US proceeds with seabed mining that violates international law. The analysis notes that the US is bound by customary international law despite not being a party to UNCLOS. However, experts say such actions could create tension for Beijing between defending multilateralism and securing its own mineral access.
Bian Yongmin's analysis, published in the June issue of the peer-reviewed *Pacific Journal*, argues that customary international law still governs seabed resources, even though the US has not ratified UNCLOS.
The study emerges as the US has long relied on economic restrictions, while China's growing economic and technological strength offers new avenues for countermeasures. An unnamed expert cautions that restraining Washington remains difficult if it ignores international law, and Beijing must balance defending multilateralism against securing its own critical mineral access.
This study could shape Beijing's future diplomatic and economic strategies. If China sanctions US-linked seabed mining firms, it may heighten tensions in the Indo-Pacific and disrupt emerging critical mineral supply chains. Conversely, strict adherence to multilateral law could constrain China's own deep-sea ambitions. The analysis may also encourage other nations to consider collective countermeasures, potentially altering how global commons are governed.