Vietnam has formally submitted a claim to the United Nations for an extended continental shelf (ECS) in the South China Sea. This move comes a month after the Philippines made a similar submission, according to Vietnam’s foreign ministry on Thursday.
Vietnam’s ECS Submission
The claim aims to extend Vietnam’s continental shelf beyond the current 200 nautical miles. This submission is in line with the rights and obligations of state parties under international maritime law, as stated by Vietnam’s foreign ministry.
This marks Vietnam’s third ECS submission. The previous submissions include one for the North Area of the South China Sea, also known as Vietnam’s East Sea, and a joint submission with Malaysia in 2009 for the southern part of the area.
Disputed Waters and Resources
The South China Sea is a highly contested region with multiple countries, including China, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam, claiming parts of it. The area is strategically important, with $3 trillion worth of trade passing through annually. It is also believed to be rich in oil and natural gas deposits, as well as fish stocks.
Vietnam’s Position on Sovereignty
In addition to the ECS claim, Vietnam sent a note verbale to the UN Secretary-General to reiterate its position on the Philippines’ similar submission from the previous month. The note also reaffirmed Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos, in accordance with international law.
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With Inputs from Reuters
