China has adjudicated approximately 88,000 maritime cases involving parties from 146 countries and regions
Maritime Justice Reforms
Over the past four decades, courts in China have adjudicated approximately 88,000 maritime cases involving parties from 146 countries and regions, underscoring their expanding role in international maritime justice and ocean governance. Through consistent engagement and reform, China’s judicial institutions have evolved into pivotal players in shaping equitable and effective global maritime frameworks.
In recent years, China’s judiciary has strengthened its participation in global ocean governance, using maritime law as a key instrument to advance the concept of a shared maritime future and promote modernization of the international ocean governance system. Guided by a strategy of excellence in maritime adjudication, Chinese courts have upheld international conventions, respected global legal norms, and ensured equal protection for domestic and foreign litigants alike. These efforts have positioned China as an increasingly preferred venue for resolving international maritime disputes.
A growing number of overseas litigants now voluntarily bring their cases before Chinese maritime courts, even when their disputes have limited links to China—an indication of trust in the nation’s legal credibility. In one notable instance, a foreign shipowner renamed its vessel RESPECT following a successful mediation, symbolizing appreciation for fair and efficient judicial proceedings.
China’s leadership in global maritime lawmaking has also gained recognition. The United Nations General Assembly adopted the Beijing Convention on the Judicial Sale of Ships in September 2023, marking the first UN maritime convention named after a Chinese city. Furthermore, in July 2025, the Draft Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents, proposed by China, was endorsed by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) and submitted to the General Assembly. This initiative seeks to extend China’s well-established practices in maritime documentation across all modes of transport, offering a “China solution” to modernize international multimodal transport regulations.
Since 2013, Chinese courts have resolved more than 300,000 cases involving maritime cargo transport, marine insurance, ship collisions, and shipbuilding, along with 27,000 inland waterway disputes. These rulings have enhanced the regulatory environment of the shipping sector, supported the shipbuilding industry, and reinforced the legal foundation for the Belt and Road Initiative’s high-quality development and the resilience of global industrial and supply chains.
Recent judicial case studies illustrate China’s commitment to marine environmental protection. In one significant case from 2022, a container vessel ran aground near the Xisha Islands, damaging local coral reefs. Acting swiftly, the maritime court preserved evidence, detained the vessel, and, after comprehensive review, ordered compensation exceeding 14 million yuan for ecological restoration. The decision was widely recognized as a benchmark in safeguarding marine ecosystems and upholding international environmental accountability.
23rd October 2025
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