Who governs deep-sea mining? a battle between global governance and national governance Lai-Ha Chan, Pak K. Lee

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Chan, Lai-Ha, author.

Lee, Pak K., author.

Series:

Cambridge elements. Elements in earth system governance

Cambridge elements. Elements in earth system governance 2631-7818

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Ocean mining.

Ocean mining--Law and legislation.

Diplomatic relations.

China.

United States.

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Place of Publication:

Cambridge Cambridge University Press 2026

Summary:

"As China-United States competition over critical minerals intensifies, interest in deep-sea mining (DSM) in areas beyond national jurisdiction grows rapidly. However, who governs it? This Element offers a pioneering study of the relationship between global and national governance of DSM. Using a constructivist-interpretive approach, it unpacks the international DSM regime established under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which posits that the deep seabed is the 'common heritage of humankind', and contrasts it with the USA's preference for 'freedom of the high seas'. It explores how the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the USA and China interpret these social constructs' meanings when developing the DSM Mining Code. Although Washington's unilateral action to pursue DSM may speed up the finalisation of the Mining Code, the future of DSM remains uncertain due to mounting concerns about its commercial viability. A moratorium is emerging as the mainstream direction"-- Cambridge Core

Contents:

Introduction : A global politics perspective on deep-sea mining

A constructivist-interpretive approach

Global governance of deep-sea mining

Great-power competition for critical minerals : National ‘gold rush’ in DSM?

Conclusion : Not a looming ‘Grotian moment’

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references

Online resource; title from PDF title page (Cambridge Core, viewed July 20, 2026)

Other Format:

Print version Chan, Lai-Ha Who governs deep-sea mining?

ISBN:

9781009838757

100983875X

OCLC:

1596764885

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license