ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book discusses the prospect of realising joint development regimes in the East China Sea and the Aegean and their appropriate design in the light of the legal, historical, political and geographical characteristics of the disputes in question. It considers the role that offshore seabed activities, particularly petroleum-related activities, have played in the development of international law, as far as the delimitation of maritime zones is concerned. The book provides an analysis of the jurisprudence of the International Court of Justice and arbitral tribunals carrying out maritime delimitation and clarifies the current state of international law on maritime boundary delimitation. It explores the key challenges in negotiating and constructing joint development regimes in the East China Sea and the Aegean and identifies the type of joint development that could practically be most suitable in each case.
