China's new unilateral maritime law impacts all E&P in offshore ASEAN

摘要

In January 2021,Beijing published a domestic law,allowing it to use force to impose its will on the South China Sea(SCS):The Coast Guard Law of the People's Republic of China.The law also provides for extending reach beyond Beijing's territorial claims on the SCS,designated by its"nine-dashed line."The latter increases risk for all E&P operations in offshore ASEAN.Thumbing its nose.Beijing's new law allows the Chinese Coast Guard(CCG),and any supporting vessel,to conduct all manners of law enforcement,interdiction,inspections and pursuits to maintain Beijing's control of the SCS."Forcible expulsion,”"towing,"and"detention"are promiment themes.Violations of this law,says Beijing,are to be settled under Chinese legal jurisdiction-read,in a Chinese courtroom.