China has strongly criticized the United States for its recent push to approve deep-sea mining activities in both domestic and international waters, accusing Washington of violating international law.
The sharp rebuke came after a White House executive order was signed by President Donald Trump, aimed at speeding up the approval process for seabed mineral exploration and commercial recovery permits.
In a statement issued Friday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun condemned the U.S. action, asserting that the move “violates international law” and undermines the broader interests of the global community.
“The U.S. authorisation… violates international law and harms the overall interests of the international community,” Guo said.
The controversy erupted following Trump’s decision on Thursday to sign an executive order directing the acceleration of seabed exploration in international waters.
The order seeks to establish the U.S. as a “global leader” in deep-sea exploration, all while countering China’s growing influence in accessing and controlling seabed mineral resources.
For decades, governments and private corporations have eyed the rich mineral deposits found in the ocean’s depths.
However, they have generally refrained from extracting these resources, largely due to the complex regulatory framework managed by the International Seabed Authority (ISA), a UN-affiliated body responsible for governing activities in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
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The ISA has been working to develop global rules for deep-sea mining since the 1990s, but its regulations are still pending.
Notably, the U.S. has never ratified the agreements that empower the ISA, and as a result, it remains outside of the body’s governance structure.
Trump’s executive order aims to sidestep these international regulations, calling for a quicker approval process for U.S.-based companies seeking to explore and mine mineral resources from the seabed.
China, which has similarly refrained from deep-sea mining in international waters while awaiting the ISA’s regulatory framework, has called out what it sees as the unilateral and hegemonic behavior of the United States.
In response to the executive order, China reiterated its stance against a singular, national approach to managing global resources.
“This once again exposes the unilateral approach and hegemonic nature of the United States,” Guo said, emphasizing China’s commitment to following the rules established by the ISA.
The escalating tensions over seabed exploration highlight a growing geopolitical struggle over control of the ocean’s untapped mineral wealth.
As the race to exploit these resources intensifies, the international community watches closely to see how nations will balance economic ambitions with environmental and regulatory concerns.