Vietnam's Declaration on Submission of Extended Continental Shelf Beyond 200 Nautical Miles in the Middle of the East Sea

Overview of the event on July 17 in New York (USA) - Photo: Provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

On July 17 local time (early morning of July 18 Vietnam time), a representative of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs handed over to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) a dossier submitted on the Extended Continental Shelf Limits beyond 200 nautical miles of Vietnam in the central area of ​​the East Sea (VNM‑C).

On this occasion, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs solemnly announced the incident. Tuoi Tre Online published the full statement as follows:

1. As a continental country bordering the East Sea and a member state of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), based on relevant provisions of UNCLOS and in accordance with its natural geographical conditions, Vietnam has full legal and scientific basis to affirm that Vietnam has the right to a natural continental shelf extending beyond 200 nautical miles from the baseline used to calculate the breadth of Vietnam's territorial waters.

In 2009, Vietnam completed two national submissions: the submission on the Extended Continental Shelf Limits for the northern part of the East Sea (VNM‑N), the submission on the Extended Continental Shelf Limits for the central part of the East Sea (VNM‑C); and at the same time, cooperated with Malaysia to develop a joint submission on the Extended Continental Shelf Limits for the southern part of the East Sea.

In May 2009, Vietnam submitted the Extended Continental Shelf Limits for the northern part of the East Sea and together with Malaysia submitted a joint Extended Continental Shelf Limits for the southern part of the East Sea.

In the note sent to CLCS at that time, Vietnam affirmed that it would submit the Extended Continental Shelf Boundary in the middle of the East Sea at a later time (stated in note No. CLCS.37.2009.LOS dated May 11, 2009 of the Secretary-General of the United Nations sent to all member states of the United Nations).

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, head of the Vietnamese Mission to the United Nations (left) and representative of the CLCS - Photo: Provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2. After a number of relevant coastal states in the East Sea have submitted their own submissions from 2019 to present, Vietnam's submission of the Extended Continental Shelf Limits in the central area of ​​the East Sea is to ensure Vietnam's legitimate rights to the part of Vietnam's extended continental shelf in the central area of ​​the East Sea that Vietnam is fully entitled to enjoy in accordance with Article 76 of UNCLOS.

Vietnam affirms that Vietnam's submission in the central area of ​​the East Sea does not affect the maritime delimitation between Vietnam and relevant coastal states in the East Sea on the basis of UNCLOS.

3. On this occasion, Vietnam reaffirms its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos in accordance with international law and its rights over its maritime zones in the East Sea established in accordance with UNCLOS.

At the same time, Vietnam pledges to be ready to resolve and control disputes and disagreements on territorial sovereignty related to the two archipelagos of Hang Sa and Truong Sa and disputes on maritime delimitation between Vietnam and relevant coastal countries in the East Sea by peaceful means, and together with countries in the region and the international community maintain peace, stability, security, safety, freedom of navigation, aviation and sustainable development in the East Sea on the basis of international law, including UNCLOS.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tuyen-bo-cua-viet-nam-ve-de-trinh-them-luc-dia-mo-rong-ngoai-200-hai-ly-o-giua-bien-dong-20240718064741635.htm