Abstract:

It is fundamental to the future of Chinese Arctic activities to clarify the Arctic maritime rights and interests
of all concerned countries. To elucidate the current situation, this study conducted quantitative and
spatial mapping-based analyses of the exclusive economic zones, outer continental shelf platforms, and marine
protected areas claimed by the countries surrounding the Arctic. The results were considered in combination
with related legal policies both to predict the developing trends of Arctic maritime rights and interests
and to explore their influence on China’s future involvement in the Arctic region. The findings of this study
could serve as a reference for the strategic planning of future Chinese Arctic activities. The results show that
it has a certain regularity on the coastal countries' restriction of the Arctic Ocean activities. It shows a significant
zonal distribution meridionally, where the restriction gradually weakened as the latitude increases.
In depth , the control range of the continental shelf is greater than that of the superjacent waters.

Key words: Arctic, maritime rights and interests, exclusive economic zone, outer continental shelf, marine protected area