Delimitation of territorial waters, exclusive economic zones and continental shelves of Vietnam and China

In order to consolidate and develop the traditional friendly neighborly relationship between the two countries and peoples of Vietnam and China, to preserve and promote the stability and development of the Gulf of Tonkin; On the basis of the principles of respecting each other's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence; In the spirit of mutual understanding, compromise, friendly consultation and to fairly and reasonably resolve the issue of delimitation of the Gulf of Tonkin.

Illustration

Pursuant to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, recognized principles of international law and practice, on the basis of full consideration of all relevant circumstances in the Gulf of Tonkin, in accordance with the principle of fairness, through friendly negotiations, the territorial waters, exclusive economic zones and continental shelves of the two countries in the Gulf of Tonkin have been delimited. Accordingly, the Gulf of Tonkin is a semi-enclosed bay surrounded in the North by the mainland coast of Vietnam and China, in the East by the coast of Leizhou Peninsula and Hainan Island of China, in the West by the mainland coast of Vietnam and limited in the South by a straight line connecting the most protruding point of the outermost edge of Oanh Ca Cape - Hainan Island of China with geographical coordinates of latitude 18 ^o 31'19" North, longitude 18 ^o 41'17" East, through Con Co Island of Vietnam to a point on the coast of Vietnam with geographical coordinates of latitude 16 ^o 57'40" North and longitude 107 ^o 08'42" East.

The two Prime Ministers witnessed the signing and handover of the Agreement on cooperation in research on integrated management of marine and island environment in the Gulf of Tonkin between the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam and the Ministry of Natural Resources of China - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The demarcation line from point 1 to point 9 is the boundary between the territorial waters of the two countries in the Gulf of Tonkin. The vertical plane following the territorial sea boundary of the two countries determines the demarcation of the airspace, seabed and subsoil of the territorial waters of the two countries. The demarcation line from point 9 to point 21 specified in Article II of this Agreement is the boundary between the exclusive economic zones and continental shelves of the two countries in the Gulf of Tonkin. The demarcation line of the territorial waters of the two countries specified in Article II from point 1 to point 7 is shown by the black line on the specialized map of the Bac Luan River mouth at a scale of 10,000 signed and jointly established by Vietnam and China in 2000. The demarcation line of the territorial waters, exclusive economic zones and continental shelves of the two countries from point 7 to point 21 is shown by the black line on the Comprehensive Map of the Gulf of Tonkin at a scale of 1:500,0000 and jointly established in 2000. These demarcation lines are all geodetic lines. The specialized map of the Bac Luan River mouth and the Comprehensive Map of the Gulf of Tonkin mentioned above are maps attached to the Agreement. The above maps use the ITRF-96 coordinate system. The geographical coordinates of the points specified in Article II of this Agreement are all determined on the above maps. The demarcation line specified in this Agreement is shown on the maps attached to the Agreement for illustrative purposes only. Vietnam and China respect the sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction of each Party over the territorial waters, exclusive economic zones and continental shelves in the Gulf of Tonkin as determined. In the event that there are single oil, natural gas or other mineral deposits lying across the demarcation line specified by Vietnam and China. Through friendly consultations to reach an agreement on the most effective exploitation of the above structures or mineral deposits as well as the fair sharing of benefits from the exploitation. Vietnam and China agree to conduct consultations on the rational use and sustainable development of biological resources in the Gulf of Tonkin as well as cooperation related to the conservation, management and use of biological resources in the exclusive economic zones of the two countries in the Gulf of Tonkin. The delimitation of the territorial sea, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of the two countries in the Gulf of Tonkin shall not have any influence or prejudice on the position of each Contracting Party on international legal norms on the law of the sea. Any dispute relating to the interpretation or implementation shall be resolved through friendly consultation and negotiation.

Kim Oanh