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Understanding by the Cabinet

Re: The Conclusion of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Adjustment of Japan's Maritime Legal Régime

(tentative translation)
February 20, 1996

  1. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Agreement Relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 not only contribute to the establishment of a stable legal order of the seas and oceans in the international society, but also meet Japan's national interests as a maritime nation. Therefore, the Government of Japan proceeds with necessary preparations with the aim of their early conclusion.
    1. The Government of Japan, in order to adjust its maritime legal regime, also proceeds with necessary preparations including the following measures:
      1. To establish the contiguous zone, as a zone where a coastal State exercises the control necessary to prevent or punish infringement of its customs, fiscal, immigration or sanitary laws and regulations within its territory;
      2. To establish the exclusive economic zone, as a zone where a coastal State exercises its rights with regard to fishery, mining, protection of the maritime environment and so on;
      3. To enable the adoption of straight baselines as territorial baselines, to enable the appropriate exercise of Japan's rights as a coastal State, and to consider appropriate adjustment of laws with regard to the regulation on the sea.
    2. As Ministers in charge of these tasks, Minister of Transport engages in the coordinations with regard to the territorial sea and the contiguous zone, so does Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries with regard to the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf, respectively.
  3. The Government of Japan, with regard to fishery relations with the Republic of Korea and the People's Republic of China, makes earnest efforts to start talks promptly, with the aim of the early conclusion of new fishery arrangements, fully based upon the spirit of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and to reach a conclusion within a reasonable period of time.
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