Law of the Sea

The International Seabed Authority (ISA) approved China's plan to look for polymetallic sulphide deposits in a 10,000 square kilometre area of seabed in the Indian Ocean for 15 years, the second plot of seabed for which China has won the right to explore from the ISA. An official from China Ocean Mineral Resources Research and Development Associated, in whose name China made the bid, said "the refined metals from these deposits will help China meet our increasing demand for resources". But India reportedly expressed concerns over the military implications of the Chinese project.