A Brief Overview of the Definitions and Maritime Rights of 'Islands' vs. 'Rocks' Under UNCLOS

This article introduces the key legal definitions of 'Island' and 'Rock' under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It aims to address the South China Sea disputes where the Philippines attempted to categorize Taiping Island as a 'rock' to restrict the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) rights of both Mainland China and the Republic of China (R.O.C.). The piece emphasizes that the distinction lies in the capacity to 'sustain human habitation or economic life of their own' and explains the significant differences in maritime rights such as territorial sea, EEZ, and continental shelf, while also mentioning the concept of low-tide elevations.