(English version) Japan's Cabinet Order No.434 of 2001: Enforcement Order of the Law on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone (as amended by Cabinet Order No.210 of 1977, Cabinet Order No.383 of 1993, Cabinet Order No.206 of 1996, and Cabinet Order No.434 of 2001).

*This Law enforces/implements the Law on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone (Law No. 30 of 1977, as amended by Law No. 73 of 1996)

  • Summary

This legal document contains Japan's Cabinet Order No.434 of 2001: Enforcement Order of the Law on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone (as amended by Cabinet Order No.210 of 1977, Cabinet Order No.383 of 1993, Cabinet Order No.206 of 1996, and Cabinet Order No.434 of 2001).

This legal document clarifies the criteria and specific coordinates for Japan's baseline (low-water baseline and straight baseline) mentioned in Article 2 of Japan's Law on Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone (Law No.73 of 1996). The Order also includes specific coordinates for the basepoint of the Territorial Sea regime for the Soya Strait, the Tsugaru Strait, the eastern channel of the Tsushima Strait and the western channel of the Tsushima Strait, and the Osumi Strait.

by Tran Nguyen Quan

(English version) Japan's Law on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone (Law No. 30 of 1977, as amended by Law No. 73 of 1996)

*This Law amended Law on Territorial Sea (Law No.30 of 1977)

  • Summary

This legal document contains Japan's Law on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone (Law No. 30 of 1977, as amended by Law No. 73 of 1996). Article 1 of this Law confirms the 12-nautical mile Territorial Sea regime measured from the outer limit of the baseline (low-water/straight). The specific coordinates of basepoints forming the baseline to separate the internal water from other maritime zones and the criteria to establish such baselines are provided in Cabinet Order No.210.

Article 3 regards hot pursuits. Article 4 establishes a 24-nautical mile contiguous zone measured from the outer limit of the baseline from which the territorial sea is measured.

This law maintains, inter alia, the supplementary provisions in the 1977 Law on the Territorial Sea indicating a 3-nautical mile Territorial Sea regime for the Soya Strait, the Tsugaru Strait, the eastern channel of the Tsushima Strait and the western channel of the Tsushima Strait, and the Osumi Strait.

by Tran Nguyen Quan

(English version) Japan's Law on the Territorial Sea (Law No.30 of 2 May 1977)

*This Law was amended by the Law on Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone (Law No.73 of 1996)

  • Summary

This legal document contains Japan's Law on the Territorial Sea (Law No.30 of 2 May 1977). Notably, although it was established prior to the conclusion of the UNCLOS III in 1982, Article 1 of this Law confirms the 12-nautical mile Territorial Sea regime measured from the outer limit of the baseline (low-water/straight). The specific coordinates of basepoints forming the baseline to separate the internal water from other maritime zones and criteria to establish such baselines are provided in Cabinet Order No.210

The supplementary provisions annexed to this Law apply a 3-nautical mile Territorial Sea regime for the Soya Strait, the Tsugaru Strait, the eastern channel of the Tsushima Strait and the western channel of the Tsushima Strait, and the Osumi Strait.

by Tran Nguyen Quan

(English version) Agreement between Japan and South Korea concerning joint development of the southern part of the continental shelf adjacent to the two countries (with map, appendix, agreed minutes and exchanges of notes) on 30 January 1974

  • Summary:

This legal document contains the English version of the Agreement between Japan and South Korea concerning joint development of the southern part of the continental shelf adjacent to the two countries (with map, appendix, agreed minutes, and exchanges of notes) on 30 January 1974.

Article 2 of this Agreement establishes that the 'Joint Development Zone" subject to this Agreement shall be an area of continental shelf bounded by straight lines connecting 21 points to enclose the Joint Development Zone. The coordinates of the 21 points are specified in the same Article 2. Under this Agreement, the Joint Development Zone may be divided into 9 Subzones as provided from the thirtheenth to the fifteenth page of the Agreement document. Each of the Subzone will be explored and exploited jointly by concessionaires of both countries. who shall enter into agreements for such joint exploration and exploitation.

Notably, Article 14 of the Agreement establishes the japan-ROK Joint Commission for consultations on matters concerning the implementation of this Agreement. In case any disputes between the two countries regarding the interpretation and implementation of this Agreement cannot be settled via diplomatic channels, the two countries shall refer for decision to an arbitration board composed of three arbitrators. Japan and South Korea each will appoint one arbitrator, and the third arbitrator shall be appointed by the two chosen arbitrators, provided that the third arbitrator shall not be a national from neither Japan nor South Korea.

 

 

by Tran Nguyen Quan

(English version) Agreement between Japan and South Korea concerning the establishment of boundary in the northern part of the continental shelf adjacent to the two countries (with map and agreed minutes) on 30 January 1974

  • Summary:

This legal document contains the English version of the Agreement between Japan and South Korea concerning the establishment of boundary in the northern part of the continental shelf adjacent to the two countries (with map and agreed minutes) signed on 30 January 1974. As provided by Article 3, apart from continental shelves delimitation, this Agreement shall not affect the legal status of the superjacent waters around and airspace above the continental shelves area subjected to this Agreement.

Article 1 provides the coordinates of 26 points constituting the boundary line between that part of the continental shelf appertaining to Japan and that part of the continental shelf appertaining to the Republic of Korea in the northern part of the continental shelf adjacent to the two countries.

Notably, Article 2 clarifies that in case Japan and South Korea are unable to agree on a manner to 'most effectively exploit' any geological structure or field of mineral deposit beneath the seabed that extends across the boundary line, the dispute shall be referred to a third party arbitration at the request of either party. The decision of that arbitration shall be binding on both Japan and South Korea.

 

 

 

by Tran Nguyen Quan

(English version) Agreement between India and Myanmar on the delimitation of the maritime boundary in the Andaman Sea, in the Coco Channel and in the Bay of Bengal on 23 December 1986

  • Summary:

This legal document contains the English version of the Agreement between India and Myanmar on the delimitation of the maritime boundary in the Andaman Sea, in the Coco Channel, and in the Bay of Bengal on 23 December 1986.

Article 1 of the Agreement lists the specific coordinates of 14 points (points 1 to 14) constituting the maritime boundary between Burma (Myanmar) and India in the Andaman Sea and in the Coco Channel. Article 2 of the Agreement states the coordinates of points 14, 15, and 16, whose connecting lines shall constitute the maritime boundary between the two countries in the Bay of Bengal. The extension of the maritime boundary between the two countries in the Bay of Bengal shall be done subsequently.

Notably, the final paragraph of Article 1 clarifies that the maritime boundary between India and Burma (Myanmar) will be extended from point 1 up to the trijunction point between India, Myanmar, and Thailand, which would be concluded in 1993, 7 years later after this Agreement.

 

by Tran Nguyen Quan

(English version) Agreement between India, Myanmar, and Thailand on the determination of the trijunction point between the three countries in the Andaman Sea on 27 October 1993

  • Summary:

This legal document contains the Agreement between India, Myanmar, and Thailand on the determination of the trijunction point between the three countries in the Andaman Sea on 27 October 1993.

This Agreement was signed by the three countries recalling the 1978 India-Thailand seabed boundary Agreement, the 1980 Myanmar-Thailand maritime boundary Agreement, and the 1986 India-Myanmar maritime boundary Agreement.

Notably, Article 1 of the Agreement specifies the coordinates of the Trijunction point between the three countries called point T (09*38'00"N - 95*35'25"E), from/to which the boundaries subjected in the 3 bilateral Agreements mentioned in the previous paragraph shall extend to.

 

by Tran Nguyen Quan

(English version) Agreement between Burma (Myanmar) and Thailand on the delimitation of the maritime boundary between the two countries in the Andaman Sea on 25 July 1980

  • Summary:

This legal document contains the English version of the Agreement between Burma (Myanmar) and Thailand on the delimitation of the maritime boundary between the two countries in the Andaman Sea signed on 25 July 1980. Article 1.1 of the Agreement specifies the coordinates of the 9 points constituting the maritime boundary between the two state parties under the equidistance basis. Article 1.2 specifies that the segment of the maritime boundary comprising the lines connecting points 1,2,3,4, and 5 shall indicate the territorial sea boundary between the two countries. Article 1.3 states that the segment connecting point 5 through points 6.7.8. and 9 shall constitute the continental shelves boundary, and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) between the two countries if Thailand establishes her EEZ (This Agreement was signed before the open-signing day of the UNCLOS III in 1982.)

Article 1.4 clarifies that the extension of the bilateral maritime boundary shall extend in the direction of and up to the maritime boundary trijunction point between Thailand, Burma, and India, which would be concluded in a Trilateral Agreement signed in 1993.

 

by Tran Nguyen Quan

(English version) Agreement between Thailand and India on the delimitation of sea-bed boundary between the two countries in the Andaman Sea on 22 June 1978

  • Summary:

This legal document contains the English version of the Agreement between Thailand and India on the delimitation of the sea-bed boundary between the two countries in the Andaman Sea on 22 June 1978 signed on 22 June 1978. Notably, Article 1 of the Agreement specifies the coordinates of the 7 points constituting the seabed boundary between the two state parties.

The sea bed boundary between India and Thailand will be extended from the trijunction point agreed between India, Indonesia, and Thailand. in the north-easterly direction to point 1 in this Agreement.

by Tran Nguyen Quan

(English version) Agreement between Solomon Islands and Australia establishing certain sea and seabed boundaries, 13 September 1988

  • Summary

This legal document contains the English versions of the Agreement between Solomon Islands and Australia establishing certain sea and seabed boundaries, signed on 13 September 1988.

The coordinates of the three basepoints constituting the EEZ and Continental shelf boundary between Australian Reefs in the Coral Sea and Solomon Islands Reefs are listed in Article 1.1 of the Agreement.

by Tran Nguyen Quan