China slams Chile-Belgium bid to host High Seas Treaty body, pushes rival Xiamen proposal

China on Thursday criticised Chile and Belgium’s combined bid to host the secretariat of the High Seas Treaty, accusing the countries of “politicising the bidding process and dividing members into opposing camps”.

The three countries had previously submitted competing proposals to host the secretariat – the administrative headquarters of the treaty, also known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement – until Chile and Belgium announced their joint bid on Friday.

Chile...