China moves to expand its influence in global ocean governance. JAN 17, 2026.

Photo By Unsplash Sean Oulashin

China moves to expand its influence in global ocean governance.

China announced on Friday (January 17) its bid to host the secretariat of the new international treaty aimed at protecting the high seas, reinforcing the country’s broader strategy to increase its role in global environmental governance.

In a letter sent to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, China’s mission to the UN formally proposed the coastal city of Xiamen as the permanent administrative seat of the agreement.

The treaty is set to enter into force on Saturday, following years of negotiations and repeated delays. A final decision on the host country for the secretariat is expected later in 2026. Until now, Belgium and Chile had been the main contenders.

Observers see China’s move as politically and symbolically significant. According to Li Shuo, director of the China Climate Hub at the Asia Society Policy Institute, the bid signals Beijing’s intention to play a more active role in shaping international environmental rules.

The announcement comes just days after US President Donald Trump declared his country’s withdrawal from dozens of international treaties and organizations, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the cornerstone of global climate governance.

The high seas treaty — ratified in September by at least 60 countries — seeks to protect marine areas beyond national exclusive economic zones. These waters account for the majority of the world’s oceans and harbor some of the planet’s richest biodiversity.

Environmental groups emphasize that the oceans generate roughly half of Earth’s oxygen supply and play a crucial role in regulating the global climate. Once the treaty takes effect, a new decision-making body will be tasked with coordinating actions alongside existing institutions, such as regional fisheries organizations and the International Seabed Authority.

The latter has become a focal point of intense debate over proposed rules for deep-sea mining, an activity widely regarded by scientists and civil society organizations as posing significant environmental risks.

The selection of the secretariat’s host country could shape the political balance of these negotiations in the years ahead.

The Green Amazon News

This text was compiled using public data, scientific reports, and information from meteorological institutions.

The Green Amazon News — All rights reserved.