Vietnam speaks out against China's announcement of establishing baselines in the Gulf of Tonkin

Vietnam believes that coastal states need to comply with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982) when determining baselines used to measure the breadth of territorial waters, ensuring that they do not affect the legitimate rights and interests of other states, including freedom of navigation and the right of transit through straits used for international navigation, in accordance with UNCLOS 1982.

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On March 14, 2024, at the regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in response to a reporter's question asking for Vietnam's response to China's announcement of establishing baselines in the Gulf of Tonkin, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam Pham Thu Hang stated:

Vietnam and China are two countries bordering the Gulf of Tonkin. On December 25, 2000, the two countries signed the Agreement on the Delimitation of the Gulf of Tonkin (effective from June 30, 2004) to determine the boundaries of the territorial waters, exclusive economic zones and continental shelves of each country in the Gulf of Tonkin.

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam Pham Thu Hang. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Vietnam believes that coastal states need to comply with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982) when determining baselines used to measure the breadth of territorial waters, ensuring that they do not affect the legitimate rights and interests of other states, including freedom of navigation and the right of transit through straits used for international navigation, in accordance with UNCLOS 1982.

Vietnam has and will continue to exchange views with China on this issue in the spirit of friendship, understanding and mutual respect. Vietnam requests that China respect and comply with the Agreement on the Delimitation of Territorial Seas, Exclusive Economic Zones and Continental Shelf between the two countries in the Gulf of Tonkin signed in 2000 between Vietnam and China and the 1982 UNCLOS.

At the same time, Vietnam reserves its legal rights and interests under international law as well as the views as stated in the Statement dated June 6, 1996 of the Government of Vietnam regarding the Statement dated May 15, 1996 of the Government of China announcing the baselines used to calculate the breadth of China's territorial waters.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/viet-nam-len-tieng-truoc-viec-trung-quoc-tuyen-bo-xac-lap-duong-co-so-tai-vinh-bac-bo-197740.html