Deep-sea mining, pivotal for humanity’s future development, is a current global hotspot attracting widespread international attention. This article synthesizes publicly available information from recent years to comprehensively analyze the status and challenges in the development of deep-sea mining regulations, the diverse stances and strategic interactions among key stakeholders, China’s position and actions in international seabed governance, and the critical challenges and potential pathways for the future of deep-sea mining. Particular focus is placed on analyzing the implications of the new Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) assuming office, and the profound impact this will have on both the formulation of regulations and the future trajectory of deep-sea mining.