Abstract:

Since becoming an Antarctic Treaty Consultative Party in 1985, China has been formally involved in Antarctic governance for 36 years. The Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) and the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) are the two most important mechanisms in Antarctic governance, and they are also the main platforms for China to participate in Antarctic governance. Looking back on China's participation in Antarctic governance shows that, after learning and using the rules, China is now trying to create new rules of Antarctic governance. At present, China is faced with challenges such as negative comments and weak institutional discourse power. China should try its best to weaken the influence of the negative comments and reverse containment in the Antarctic in a comprehensive way. China also should pay close attention to small and medium issues, cultivate relevant diplomatic talents and experts, widely participate in various Intersessional Contact Groups and gradually gain institutional discourse power.

Key words: Antarctic governance, China’s participation, ATCM, CCAMLR, institutional discourse power