Keeping calm at sea essential

China is facing a slew of maritime problems, and may continue to do so in the near future. In the South China Sea, it has disputes over maritime boundaries with several member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It also has different understandings and disputes over the free use of marine resources in the South China Sea's exclusive economic zone with some countries.

In the East China Sea, it faces resource development problems, demarcation disputes and conflicts over maritime safety with Japan.

In the high seas, it has to deal with marine safety issues such as piracy, environmental pollution caused by natural and man-made disasters, and problems caused by the setting of the outer continental shelf (OCS), which affect its national interests.