Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam on the submission of the extended continental shelf boundary in the central area of ​​the East Sea

On July 17 (local time), the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam handed over to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) the Submission on the Limits of Vietnam's Extended Continental Shelf beyond 200 nautical miles in the Central Area of ​​the East Sea (VNM‑C). On this occasion, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam issued a statement.

The delegation of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam presented to the representative of the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) the Submission of the Extended Continental Shelf Limits beyond 200 nautical miles of Vietnam in the Central East Sea Area.

The full statement reads 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 North East Sea Area (VNM‑N), the Submission on the Extended Continental Shelf Limits for the Central East Sea Area (VNM‑C); and at the same time, cooperated with Malaysia to build a joint Submission on the Extended Continental Shelf Limits for the South East Sea Area.

In May 2009, Vietnam submitted a Submission on the Limits of the Extended Continental Shelf in the North East Sea Area and, together with Malaysia, submitted a Joint Submission on the Limits of the Extended Continental Shelf in the South East Sea Area. In the Note Verbale sent to the CLCS at that time, Vietnam affirmed that it would submit a Submission on the Limits of the Extended Continental Shelf in the Central East Sea Area at a later date (stated in Note Verbale No. CLCS.37.2009.LOS dated May 11, 2009 of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to all member states of the United Nations).

2. After a number of relevant coastal states in the East Sea have submitted their own Submissions since 2019, Vietnam's submission of the Submission on the Extended Continental Shelf Limits in the Central Area of ​​the East Sea aims to ensure Vietnam's legitimate rights over its extended continental shelf in the Central Area of ​​the East Sea that Vietnam is fully entitled to 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 over territorial sovereignty related to the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos and disputes over maritime delimitation between Vietnam and relevant coastal states 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 and aviation and sustainable development in the East Sea on the basis of international law, including UNCLOS.

(According to chinhphu.vn)

Source: http://baolamdong.vn/chinh-tri/202407/tuyen-bo-cua-bo-ngoai-giao-viet-nam-ve-viec-nop-de-trinh-ranh-gioi-them-luc-dia-mo-rong-khu-vuc-giua-bien-dong-c660606/