According to the Minister of State in its claim said that the Palau Ridge meets the Kyushu Ridge (Japan) and it is commonly referred to as the Palau-Kyushu Ridge. Fields of natural resources deposits which are alternate sources of energy are found along this ridge.
The Kyushu Ridge overlaps with Japan.Palau is one of the 65 member countries of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This is the Convention which governs the world’s oceans. which is required to make its submission before 13 May 2009.Article 76 of the Convention defines the means islands countries and countries which border oceans can establish their extended continental shelf. Extended continental shelf is the natural underwater continuation of landmass beyond the 200 mile limit of a state’s exclusive economic zone. Under Article 76, a coastal state can claim the natural resources buried beneath the extended continental shelf.The State ministry said that although Palau “may not have the means to exploit the abundance of natural resources found in its continental shelf and beyond, the Government believes it is its moral responsibility to secure and bring into national jurisdiction Palau’s potential extended maritime boundary for the use of Palau’s future generations.”“The economic interests of coastal states have had greater influence on the international law of marine scientific research than any other single factor. The protection of these interests certainly was the main reason coastal states began to exercise control over the conduct of scientific investigations in maritime areas under their jurisdiction beyond the territorial sea. And this is precisely the reason Palau must look for its potential extended continental shelf if it hopes to find a sustainable long term source of revenue,” the state ministry said.On April 3, the eCS Task Force met and finalized Palau’s Submission Claim. Minister of State Sandra S. Pierantozzi headed the Palau Delegation to submit the claim on May 8. In her statement in New York, the Minister of State emphasized that even though Palau struggled to put together its claim amidst great financial difficulties, “Palau worked in good faith to bring about a Submission Claim the Palauan people can all be proud of.”
