Author
Dr Wang Qing
Organisation/Institution
Wuhan University Institute of International Law
Country
CHINA
Panel
Space Law and the Low-Altitude Economy
Title
Commercial Space Mining: China's Legal Dilemmas and Prospective Legislative Approaches
Abstract
The development of a deep-space economy, including commercial space mining, can not only diversify socio-economic development but also directly stimulate its growth. A robust legal framework and regulatory mechanisms are fundamental to conducting commercial space mining activities in a peaceful, secure, and sustainable manner. China's space mining technology ranks among the world's most advanced, making the development of commercial space mining a logical economic strategic goal for the country. However, numerous legal obstacles remain. On one hand, although a few local governments have introduced supportive policies for commercial space mining, the absence of specific national legislation raises questions about the legal foundation of such local initiatives. On the other hand, to counterbalance U.S. advancements in commercial space mining diplomatically and under international law, China has consistently maintained ambiguous and conservative positions within the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. Consequently, despite domestic laws being enacted by certain countries and the U.S. actively promoting the Artemis Accords to secure broader international recognition for commercial space mining, the lack of consensus, particularly from major spacefaring nations like China and Russia, on whether commercial entities may claim ownership of space resources persists. In the "Proposals for the 15th Five-Year Plan", the Chinese central government has, for the first time, emphasized the need to cultivate and strengthen the space industry. Against this backdrop, China is likely to adopt its customary approach from the "Reform and Opening-Up" era: refining policies through iterative development before codifying them into law, rather than establishing clear legal rules from the outset. To align with China’s vision of a "community with a shared future for mankind," its legislation on commercial space mining should reflect a commitment to safeguarding the interests of developing countries, such as through infrastructure development, activity cooperation, capacity building, and benefit-sharing.
Biography
Wang Qing is a PhD candidate at Wuhan University Institute of International Law, and a Visiting Scholar at the International Institute of Air and Space Law, Leiden University. He previously completed an internship at the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO) from November 2024 to February 2025. His research focuses on international outer space law, international air law, and the low-altitude economy. He has published prolifically in several Chinese core journals, including Studies in Science of Science, Science Technology and Law Chinese-English Version, and Journal of Shanghai University of International Business and Economics. His publications address such topics as risk governance in the development of the low-altitude economy, jurisdictional issues concerning International Lunar Research Station, and the allocation of rights to space resources. He has also participated in research projects commissioned by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and the Chinese Society of Space Law, achieving positive outcomes.
