The ‘21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative’ and naval diplomacy in China

Abstract

The ‘21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative’ indicates China's intention to create a peaceful and harmonious environment, for cooperating with other States. Naval craft, together with their inherent advantages and special legal status under international law, can have their tradition adapted by the government, for diplomatic purposes. Naval diplomacy, which is generally conducted by appropriate naval craft, could be employed to promote, the ‘Maritime Silk Road Initiative’. This paper focuses on a definition of naval diplomacy and draws attention to China's naval diplomatic practice. The discussion also extends to consider the challenges under current international status, including uncertain maritime zone delimitation and divarication of explanation regarding UNCLOS. This paper concludes by suggesting that it is necessary to formulate detailed rules of law for naval operations in peacetime, strengthen the utility of UNCLOS in regular training and enhance political mutual trust, for meaningful security cooperation.