THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM
Government News
Viet Nam announces baseline in Gulf of Tonkin
VGP - The Vietnamese Government issued on February 21 a declaration establishing the baseline for measuring the breadth of Viet Nam's territorial waters in the Gulf of Tonkin.
Viet Nam's baseline for measuring the breadth of Viet Nam's territorial waters in the Gulf of Tonkin
The declaration, announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, follows Resolution No. 68/NQ-UBTVQH15 dated February 14, 2025 of the National Assembly Standing Committee.
The establishment of the baseline in the Gulf of Tonkin aims to excercise Viet Nam's rights and obligations under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and aligns with the 2012 Law of the Sea of Viet Nam.
The baseline is determined in accordance with UNCLOS provisions, taking into account the Gulf of Tonkin's geographical and natural characteristics while ensuring compliance with international treaties towhich Viet Nam is a signatory.
The baseline serves as a legal foundation for defining Viet Nam’s maritime boundaries and the extent of its maritime areas in accordance with the UNCLOS and the agreement on the delimitation of the Gulf of Tonkin signed between Viet Nam and China in 2000.
It provides a robust legal framework for protecting and excercising Viet Nam’s sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction, serving economic development and maritime management, and promoting international cooperation./.