Rights and obligations in marine scientific research: Legal insights from Chinese research/survey vessels operating in maritime zones under Vietnam’s sovereign rights

Dao Le Thi Anh, Dung Le Duc, Ha Pham Thi Bac

Résumé


This article examines the rights and obligations of coastal States and foreign vessels in conducting maritime scientific research within maritime zones under coastal State sovereign rights, focusing on legal issues arising from the operation of the Chinese research/survey vessel Bei Diao 996 in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone. The study aims to clarify whether Vietnam has a sufficient legal basis under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to require prior authorization for foreign research and survey activities and to assess the adequacy of Vietnam’s domestic regulatory framework. Using doctrinal, historical, and comparative legal methods, the article analyses provisions of 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on marine scientific research, Vietnamese legislation governing foreign scientific activities at sea and evaluates the legal distinction between marine scientific research and hydrographic surveying. The findings indicate that although hydrographic surveying differs conceptually from marine scientific research, it does not constitute an unrestricted freedom of the seas when conducted in another State’s exclusive economic zone and involving marine data collection relevant to resource management or maritime governance. Accordingly, unauthorized survey activities by the Bei Diao 996 vessel are inconsistent with United Nations 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea and infringe Vietnam’s sovereign rights. The research further identifies regulatory fragmentation and procedural limitations within Vietnam’s maritime scientific research licensing regime and recommends clarifying legal classifications, strengthening authorization procedures, and improving institutional coordination while ensuring compliance with international obligations to facilitate legitimate scientific research. Although limited by reliance on publicly available information and a single case study, the article provides policy – relevant insights for maritime governance and contributes an original, practice – oriented analysis clarifying the evolving legal status of MSR and maritime survey activities under 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Mots-clés


UNCLOS 1982, marine scientific research, Bei Diao 996, hydrographic survey, sovereign rights, Vietnam.

Texte intégral :

PDF (English)

Références


Reference

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5102/rdi.v22i3.10411

ISSN 2236-997X (impresso) - ISSN 2237-1036 (on-line)

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