Chapter 1 UNCLOS Ratification and Enactment of National Laws
1. UNCLOS
(1) UNCLOS Ratification
As a result of negotiations regarding the "United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea" (hereinafter referred to as "UNCLOS") at the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (1973 - 82), UNCLOS was adopted in April 1982. Furthermore, 119 countries signed this convention at the conference for signature held in Montego Bay, Jamaica, in December 1982. Japan also signed it the following year on February 7.
UNCLOS would come into force twelve months after the date of deposit of the sixtieth instrument of ratification or accession with the Secretary General of the United Nations. On November 16, 1993, the Co-operative Republic of Guyana deposited the sixtieth instrument of ratification with the U.N. Secretary General, and as a result. UNCLOS came into force on November 16, 1994.
After the 136th Session of the National Diet approved the ratification of UNCLOS, Japan deposited its instrument of ratification with the U.N. Secretary General, and UNCLOS came into force for Japan on July 20 1996.
Of Japan's neighbors, the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Korea have ratified UNCLOS. However, Russia, although a signatory, has not yet ratified it.
(2) Contents of UNCLOS
UNCLOS is composed of a preamble, main text of 320 articles, and nine annexes. When combined with the "Agreement Relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982," it is a voluminous convention containing a total of approximately 500 articles.
In addition to the areas prescribed by the four Geneva Conventions (Convention on the Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone, Convention on the High Seas. Convention on Fishing and Conservation of the Living Resources of the High Seas, Convention on the Continental Shelf), which concerns laws of the sea to date regarding territorial sea, contiguous zone, continental shelf, high seas, etc., UNCLOS prescribes provisions comprehensively for marine-related issues in general, such as exclusive economic zones (hereinafter referred to as "EEZ"), the sea-bed and ocean floor and subsoil thereof beyond the limit of national jurisdiction (referred to as "Area" in UNCLOS), protection and preservation of the marine environment, marine scientific research, and the settlement of disputes.
