Vietnam issues statement on baselines for calculating territorial waters in the Gulf of Tonkin

On February 21, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, based on Resolution No. 68 dated February 14 of the National Assembly Standing Committee, the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam issued a Declaration on the baselines used to calculate the breadth of Vietnam's territorial waters in the Gulf of Tonkin.

The determination of baselines in the Gulf of Tonkin is to implement Vietnam's rights and obligations under the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and in accordance with the 2012 Law of the Sea of ​​Vietnam.

Diagram illustrating the baselines used to calculate the width of Vietnam's territorial waters in the Gulf of Tonkin (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

The baseline used to calculate the breadth of Vietnam's territorial waters in the Gulf of Tonkin is determined on the basis of the provisions of UNCLOS, in accordance with the geographical and natural characteristics of the Gulf of Tonkin and does not affect international treaties to which Vietnam participates or is a member.

The baseline used to calculate the breadth of Vietnam's territorial waters in the Gulf of Tonkin is the basis for determining the boundaries and scope of Vietnam's maritime zones according to the provisions of UNCLOS and the Agreement on the Delimitation of the Gulf of Tonkin between Vietnam and China signed in 2000, creating additional legal basis to protect and enforce Vietnam's sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction, serving economic development, maritime management, and promoting international cooperation.

Below is the full text of the Declaration of the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on the baselines used to calculate the breadth of the territorial sea in the Gulf of Tonkin:

In accordance with the provisions of the Law of the Sea of ​​Vietnam, issued on June 21, 2012, based on Resolution No. 68/NQ-UBTVQH15 of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, XVth tenure, approving the determination and promulgation of the baseline used to calculate the breadth of Vietnam's territorial waters in the Gulf of Tonkin, the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam promulgates the baseline used to calculate the breadth of the territorial waters of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the Gulf of Tonkin as follows:

Article 1. The baseline used to calculate the breadth of the territorial waters of Vietnam's mainland territory in the Gulf of Tonkin consists of straight lines connecting the points listed below:

Article 2. The baseline used to calculate the breadth of the territorial sea of ​​Bach Long Vi Island is the low-water line along the coast of the island.

Article 3. Outer boundary of the territorial waters of the Socialist Republic

Vietnam in the Bac Luan estuary area is determined by 9 points along the territorial sea demarcation line between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the People's Republic of China in the Gulf of Tonkin and point 10 with coordinates determined in the waters of Vietnam. The coordinates of the points are listed below:

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/viet-nam-ra-tuyen-bo-ve-duong-co-so-de-tinh-chieu-rong-lanh-hai-trong-vinh-bac-bo-192250221170534477.htm