On September 15, 2023, Director-General of the Department of Treaty and Law of the Foreign Ministry Ma Xinmin, on behalf of China, made a statement at the oral proceeding before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea relating to the request for an advisory opinion on climate change. He expounded on China's position and propositions on the matter of jurisdiction and issues concerning international climate change law and international maritime law.

This marked the first time that China participated in an oral proceeding before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. This also marked another important international judicial practice of China after it participated in the oral proceeding before the International Court of Justice relating to the request for an advisory opinion on Kosovo.