HANOI: Vietnam has formally lodged a claim with the United Nations for an extended continental shelf (ECS) in the South China Sea, following a similar move by the Philippines last month, Vietnam’s foreign ministry said on Thursday.
According to the ministry’s statement, Hanoi is seeking to expand its continental shelf beyond the current 200 nautical miles from relevant baselines in its territorial waters.
The submission also asserts Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos in accordance with international law.
China, which asserts sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea, including areas also claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam, strongly opposes Vietnam’s claim.
The contested waterway, crucial for global trade with $3 trillion worth of annual trade passing through, is believed to hold significant reserves of oil, natural gas, and fish.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian expressed firm opposition to Vietnam’s claim, stating it encroaches upon China’s Nansha Islands and violates its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights.
Vietnam’s foreign ministry also issued a diplomatic note to the UN Secretary-General regarding the Philippines’ recent ECS submission. In response, the Philippines expressed readiness to engage with Vietnam to find mutually beneficial solutions to South China Sea issues under international legal principles.
This marks Vietnam’s third ECS submission, following previous submissions for the North Area of the South China Sea (Vietnam’s East Sea) and a joint submission with Malaysia for the southern area in 2009.
