Vietnam unilaterally presented to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) its Submission on the Limits of the Extended Continental Shelf in the South China Sea. The claims made by Vietnam cover parts of China’s Nansha Qundao, which infringes on China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on July 18.

China firmly opposes it and has made serious protests to Vietnam, said Lin.

The claims violate international law including the UN Charter and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and breach the Agreement on Basic Principles Guiding the Settlement of Sea-related Issues between China and Vietnam and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea jointly signed by China and ASEAN countries, including Vietnam, said Lin. 

According to the Rules of Procedure of the CLCS, submissions will not be considered where a dispute exists, which means the CLCS will not examine or qualify relevant submissions of Vietnam and the Philippines on delimitation. Such submissions do not have any practical effect but will only accentuate differences and exacerbate frictions, which will in no way help resolve the disputes, according to the spokesperson.

China will remain committed to properly handling disputes in the South China Sea through dialogue and consultation with relevant parties, Lin noted.

In June, the Philippines announced that it has submitted information to the CLCS on the extent of its undersea shelf in the South China Sea where it sought to have the exclusive right to exploit resources according to the UNCLOS.

The Philippines’ unilateral submission on the extent of its undersea shelf in the South China Sea infringes on China’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction, violates international law, including the UNCLOS, and goes against the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, the spokesperson said on June 17.

Source: Global Times