Vietnam is asking China to honor the agreement signed in 2000 that outlines the borders of territorial seas, exclusive economic zones, and continental shelves in the Gulf of Tonkin, according to the Vietnam News Agency. 

The Southeast Asian nation is also reminding China of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as emphasized by Pham Thu Hang, spokeswoman for the Vietnamese foreign ministry, during a regular press briefing in Hanoi on Thursday. 

At the meeting, reporters raised a question regarding China’s declaration of a new baseline, connected by seven base points, to outline its territory in the Gulf of Tonkin on March 1.

In response, Hang said that on December 25, 2000, the two countries signed an agreement on the delimitation of the Gulf of Tonkin, which went into effect on June 30, 2004, delimiting each other’s territorial seas, exclusive economic zones, and continental shelves within this gulf.

Hang said that Vietnam believes all coastal countries need to abide by the 1982 UNCLOS when drawing any territorial baseline used to calculate the width of their territorial waters.

All coastal countries must ensure that the baseline does not affect the lawful rights and interests of other countries, including the freedom of navigation and the freedom of transit passage through straits used for international maritime activities in accordance with the 1982 UNCLOS.

“Vietnam has been and will continue to discuss our positions with China on this matter, in a spirit of friendship, mutual understanding, and mutual respect,” the spokeswoman stated.

“Vietnam asks that China respect and abide by the agreement on the delimitation of the territorial seas, exclusive economic zones, and continental shelves of the two countries in the Gulf of Tonkin signed in 2000, as well as the 1982 UNCLOS.”

Hang remarked that at the same time, Vietnam reserves its lawful rights and interests in accordance with international law, as well as its position as mentioned in the statement on June 6, 1996, made by the government of Vietnam.

The June 1996 statement pertained to a previous statement made by the government of China on May 15, 1996, which announced the baseline used to calculate the width of China’s territorial sea.

The Gulf of Tonkin borders both Vietnam and China, with an area of 126,250 square kilometers. 

The body of water is considered to hold great significance to both countries’ security and defense along with economic development, given its abundant fisheries resources and oil and gas reserves. 

The two countries have attached importance to the management and exploration of the area.

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