AUTHOR=Chen Linlin 

TITLE=MAV-ISR: from maritime gray zone competition to norm formation

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Marine Science

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/marine-science/articles/10.3389/fmars.2025.1617488

DOI=10.3389/fmars.2025.1617488

ISSN=2296-7745

ABSTRACT=Maritime Autonomous Vehicles-based Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (MAV-ISR) possesses unique and novel characteristics that distinguish it from other marine activities, providing a stark contrast with the uncertainty of its standing in international law. This ambiguity has resulted in different theoretical interpretations and practical concerns. In the South China Sea, conflicts of interest and practical confrontation between countries within and outside the region have given rise to a competitive gray zone, threatening the stability of the area. To mitigate the potential impact of the MAV-ISR gray zone on the international order, it is necessary to subject it to multidimensional evaluation. Normalizing MAV-ISR is the most thorough method for curbing its gray zone; however, this process should not be rushed. Its advancement should be a gradual process informed by a range of established methods and programs.