ABSTRACT
The People's Republic of China (PRC) entered the United Nations as that body was attempting to rewrite the law of the sea. PRC positions at United Nations, Conference on the Law of the Sea illustrate the underlying considerations that shape Peking's view of international relations: the Chinese concept of sovereignty. Since the mid-1950s, China's international cultural contacts have been very limited. Except for certain specialized topics, foreign publications are not available in China. The high seas and the seabed present a different issue for China with respect to the concept of sovereignty. The Chinese approach to dispute resolution emphasizes bilateral negotiations rather than some presumptive rule. A strong emphasis on sovereignty runs throughout the Chinese positions regarding the law of the sea. Law of the sea issues provide an interesting starting point for analyzing the roots of PRC policy since China's substantive positions have changed very little during the six years it has participated in law of the sea discussions.
