ABSTRACT
This chapter examines how and to what extent international law, particularly international law of the sea, plays a role in promoting and maintaining peace in East Asia Seas (EAS). The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) has established a rule of law regime for the oceans. Compliance with international law including the UNCLOS is one of the requirements when States interact and cooperate in international relations. The extension of jurisdictional maritime zones of coastal States may cause conflicts and disputes between and among neighbouring countries that share the same sea so that bilateral arrangements are needed to facilitate the maintenance of the marine legal order. These arrangements are concerned with various maritime matters such as fisheries management, maritime boundary delimitation, joint development of marine non-living resources, marine environmental protection and maritime safety. In terms of maritime security and safety of navigation, the piracy problem is the most threatening factor in EAS.
