Agreement between the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and the People’s Republic of China on the Delimitation of the Territorial Sea, Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf between the Two Countries in the Tonkin Gulf

The Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and the People’s Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as “the two Contracting Parties”);

Desiring to strengthen and enhance the traditional bonds of friendship and neighborliness between the two countries and the peoples of Viet Nam and the peoples of China, maintain the stability and promote the development of the Tonkin Gulf;

Basing themselves on the principles of mutual respect for Independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, nonaggression, noninterference into one another’s internal affairs, equality, mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence;

In the spirit of mutual understanding and accommodation and friendly consultations for an equitable and reasonable solution to the delimitation of the Tonkin Gulf;

Have agreed as follows:

Article 1

1. The two Contracting Parties, taking into account the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, internationally recognized legal principles and practices, considering all relevant circumstances in the Tonkin Gulf, following the equitable principle and through friendly negotiations, have delimited the territorial sea, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf between the two countries in the Tonkin Gulf.

2. In this Agreement, the Tonkin Gulf is a semi-enclosed gulf bordered by the continental coastlines of Viet Nam and China to the North, by the coastlines of the Lei Zhou Peninsula and Hainan Island of China to the East, by the continental coastline of Viet Nam to the West and by the straight lines connecting the outermost point of the outer edge of the Yieng Ge Cape, Hainan Island of China defined by the geographical coordinates of latitude 18o 0’19” North, longitude 108o41’17” East, crossing Con Co Island of Viet Nam to a point situated on the coastline of Viet Nam specified by the geographical coordinates of latitude 16o57’40” North and longitude 107o08’42” East. The two Contracting Parties identify the abovementioned area as the area to be delimited under this Agreement.

Article II

The two Contracting Parties agreed on the delimitation line of the territorial sea, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf between the two countries defined by the straight lines connecting the following 21 points specified by coordinates and in the sequence given below:

Point I: Latitude 21o 28’12”. 5 North Longitude 108o 06’04”. 3 East
Point 2: Latitude 21° 28’01”.7 North Longitude 108° 06’01”.6East
Point 3: Latitude 21° 27’0”.1 North Longitude 108o 05’57”.7 East
Point 4: Latitude 21° 27’39”.5 North Longitude 108° 05’51 “.5 East
Point 5: Latitude 21° 27’28”.2 North Longitude 108° 05’39”.9 East
Point 6: Latitude 21° 27’23”.l North Longitude 108° 05’38”.8 East
Point 7: Latitude 21° 27’08”.2 North Longitude 108° 05’43”.7 East
Point 8: Latitude 21” 16’32” North Longitude 108° 08’05” East
Point 9; Latitude 21° 12’35” North Longitude 108° 12’31” East
Point 10: Latitude 20o 24’05” North Longitude 108° 22’45” East
Point 11: Latitude 19° 57’33” North Longitude 107° 55’47” East
Point 12: Latitude 19° 39’33” North Longitude 107° 31’40” East
Point 13: Latitude 19° 25’26” North Longitude 107° 21’00” East
Point 14; Latitude 19° 25’26” North Longitude 107° 12’43” East
Point 15; Latitude 19° 16’04” North Longitude 107° 11’23”East
Point 16: Latitude 19° 12’55” North Longitude 107° 09’34” East
Point 17: Latitude 18o 42’52” North Longitude 107° 09’34” East
Point 18: Latitude 18° 13’49” North Longitude 107° 34’00” East
Point 19; Latitude 18° 07’08” North Longitude 107° 37’34” East
Point 20; Utitude 18° 04’13” North Longitude 107° 39’09” East
Point 21: Latitude 17° 47’00” North Longitude 107° 58’00” East