China has formally submitted a statement to the United Nations outlining the baselines of the territorial sea adjacent to Huangyan Dao, reaffirming its sovereignty over the area. On Monday, Geng Shuang, China’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, deposited the “Statement of the People’s Republic of China on the Baselines of the Territorial Sea adjacent to Huangyan Dao” along with relevant charts to Stephen Mathias, acting under-secretary-general of the UN.
The statement and accompanying charts will be published on the UN’s website, making the information officially available to the international community. In a separate announcement, China’s permanent mission to the UN emphasized that Huangyan Dao has always been part of China’s territory.
The mission stated that the Chinese government delimited and announced the baselines in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone, on November 10.
This action is seen as a natural step by China to strengthen marine management lawfully and is consistent with international law and common practices. According to UNCLOS, coastal states are required to deposit charts and relevant information, including geodetic data, with the UN secretary-general to permanently describe the outer limits of their continental shelf.
China’s mission noted that by submitting this statement, the country is fulfilling its obligations under UNCLOS as a state party to the convention. The deposit is also a legitimate move to safeguard China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.
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China deposits statement on baselines of Huangyan Dao with UN
cgtn.com
