This paper discusses some international law issues related to the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road. Firstly, the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road requires the establishment and improvement of international and domestic legal systems concerning maritime interconnectivity. Secondly, the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road requires China and other involved countries to cooperate and coordinate to explore and protect maritime resources and environment according to international laws. Thirdly, the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road requires countries along the road to jointly maintain maritime peace and security and a favorable international maritime legal order. The paper finally points out that involved countries need to strengthen cooperation on legislature and law enforcement of related issues. The community of shared interests and regional economic integration linked by the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road will facilitate the integration and unification of regional legal systems.

WANG, Hanling

(Director, Research Center of the Law of the Sea and Maritime Affairs, the Institute of International Law, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)