The Aftermath of the US Space Resource Exploration and Utilization Act: What's Left for China?

• Author: Shengli Jiang & Yun Zhao
• Pages: 9-10

Space Resources Exploration and Utilization 9

XI JEAIL 1 (2018)

Shengli Jiang

∗

& Yun Zhao

∗∗

The US Space Resource Exploration and Utilization Act 2015 aroused heated

discussions. The international community has not yet reached consensus on the

application of the concept of “common heritage of mankind” in the Moon Agreement.

In accordance with the non-appropriation principle in the Outer Space Treaty, outer

space is not subject to national appropriation. However, there is a need to balance the

common interests of the international society and the interests of the States and private

entities which invest heavily in the space resource exploration. The unilateral approach

of the US by adopting a national law is not an ideal way to deal with space resource

exploration. As a major space-faring nation, China should take a proactive approach in



level, China should consider establishing an appropriate international regime for space

resource management.

Keywords

Space Resource, Common Heritage of Mankind, Principle of Non-

Appropriation, International Mechanism

∗ Corresponding Author. Assistant Researcher at the Institute of Social Sciences of East China University of Political Science

and Law. LL.B. & Ph.D. (ECUPL). ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6389-9103. The author may be contacted

at: win_jiang@sina.com / Address: Room 333, Ming Shi Building, No. 555, Long Yuan Road, Song Jiang District,

Shanghai, P.R. China.

∗∗ Professor of Law at the University of Hong Kong. LL.B. (CUPL), LL.M. (CUPL/Leiden), Dr.iur. (Erasmus). ORCID:

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8070-8169. The author may be contacted at: zhaoy@hku.hk /Address: Cheng Yu Tung Tower,

Faculty of Law, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14330/jeail.2018.11.1.01

The Aftermath of the US

Space Resource Exploration

and Utilization Act:

What

’

s Left for China?

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