The rules-based international maritime order refers to the global system of laws, norms and institutions governing the use of the world’s oceans, based primarily on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This framework ensures that maritime activities, such as navigation, resource exploitation and environmental protection, are carried out in accordance with international law, promoting peace, stability and cooperation among nations. Basic principles include freedom of navigation, respect for territorial waters and exclusive economic zones (EEZs) and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
Order plays a critical role in ensuring global trade, managing ocean resources and preventing conflicts at sea. However, it faces increasingly challenging challenges due to unilateral maritime claims, non-compliance with international rulings, and grey-zone tactics in disputed areas such as the South China Sea. Nonetheless, many States continue to support and defend the maritime order as an essential element in preserving peaceful and legal use of the oceans.
