The Philippines' A Partial Submission of Data and Information on the Outer Limits of the Continental Shelf of the Republic of the Philippines in respect of the Benham Rise (2 July 2024)

  • Summary

This legal document contains the Executive Summary of the Philippines's Partial Submission of Data and Information on the Outer Limits of the Continental Shelf of the Republic of the Philippines beyond 200 Nautical Miles in the Benham Rise Region eastern to Luzon Island, submitted on 2 July 2012.

Notably, Section 3.3 clarifies that this Partial Submission "does not in any manner prejudice the position of any coastal state.", but seeks to "to avoid creating or provoking maritime boundary disputes where there are none, or exacerbating them where they may exist." Section 6 of this document includes the map and coordinates of the outer edge of the continental margin beyond 200 Nautical Miles in the Benham Rise Region eastern to Luzon Island.

Since 16 May 2017, the Benham Rise has been renamed the Philippine Rise, which shall be used in local and international charts and maps.

by Tran Nguyen Quan

(VNM-C) Vietnam's Partial Submission to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf in Respect of the Central Area (Executive Summary)

Summary:

This legal document contains the Executive Summary of Vietnam's submission to the CLCS regarding the information on the limits of Vietnam's continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles in the Central area of the South China Sea (marked as VNM-C), submitted on July 17th, 2024. This submission was made fifteen years after the country's partial submission in the northern region of the South China Sea (VNM-N) and Joint submission between Malaysia and Vietnam in the southern part of the South China Sea (VNM-S). The area subjected in this partial document is illustrated in Figure 1 (p.4) attached below.

Noticeably, on the cover of the submission, the year of submission is indicated as "2009," which suggests that Vietnam implies this partial submission is a continuation to the previous two submissions made by the country in 2009.

by Tran Nguyen Quan

(English version) IMO Navigation Rules at Straits of Malacca and Singapore, 14 November 1977

  • Summary

This legal document contains Resolution A.375(X) of the International Maritime Organization/IMO (at the time named Inter-governmental Maritime Consultative Organization), adopted on 14 November 1977.  This Resolution is also known as IMO Navigation Rules at Straits of Malacca and Singapore.

The Resolution includes, inter alia, coordinates constituting the separation zones and traffic lanes in the two straits, rules for vessels navigating through the two straits, and a list of navigational aids to be installed or improved.

by Tran Nguyen Quan

(VNM-N) Vietnam's Partial Submission to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf in Respect of the North Area in the South China Sea (Executive Summary)

Summary:

This legal document contains the Executive Summary of Vietnam's partial submission to the CLCS regarding Vietnam's continental shelf extending beyond 200 nautical miles in the north area of the South China Sea (SCS), submitted on May 7th, 2009. This partial submission was made one day after the Joint submission between Malaysia and Vietnam on their continental shelf extending beyond 200 nautical miles in the southern part of the South China Sea (also southern to the area subject to this partial submission of Vietnam). The area subjected in this partial document is illustrated in Figure 1 (p.5) attached below,

Noticeably, in Section 4 Absence of Disputes, the document states "the area of continental shelf which is the subject of this Submission is of overlapping interests expressed by relevant coastal States. Nevertheless, subject to the provisions of UNCLOS 1982, Vietnam is of the view that the area of continental shelf that is the subject of this Submission is not a subject of any overlap and dispute.".

Figure 1 from page 5 of the Partial Submission

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Joint submission by Malaysia and Vietnam to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf made on 6 May 2009 - in the southern part of the South China Sea (Executive Summary)

  • Summary:

This legal document contains the Executive Summary of the Joint Submission by Malaysia and Vietnam to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) regarding their continental shelf in the Southern part of the South China Sea (SCS). In the defined area in the southern part of the SCS mentioned in the document and illustrated in Map/Figure 1 of the document (p.5), the continental shelf of the two countries extends beyond 200 nautical miles and overlaps. Besides the overlapping continental shelves, in Section 4, the two countries also acknowledge that (1) there are unresolved disputes within the defined area in Figure 1 between Vietnam-Malaysia and between each of the two countries with another/other third state party. (the Philippines and China). From page 6 onwards, is Table 1 annexed to the Document specifying geographic coordinates in World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84).

Figure 1 (p.8 of the Joint Submission)

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Malaysia's Declaration upon Ratification of UNCLOS on 14 October 1996

  • Summary

This legal document contains the Declaration upon Ratification of UNCLOS of the Government of Malaysia in accordance with article 310 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on 14 October 1996. In the Declaration, the Government of Malaysia acknowledges their understanding and/or interpretations of the UNCLOS and its articles, namely Article 22, 23, 56, 74, 76, 83, 233, 301, 303.

 

 

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(English version) The Philippines: Executive Order No. 25 of 16 May 2017 for Changing the Name of "Bentham Rise" to "Philippine Rise" and for Other Purposes

  • Summary

This legal document contains Executive Order No. 25 for Changing the Name of "Bentham Rise" to "Philippine Rise" and for Other Purposes, signed by the President of the Philippines Rodrigo Roa Duterte on 16 May 2017.

by Tran Nguyen Quan

The Philippines' Partial Submission to the CLCS on Data and Information on the Outer Limit of the Continental Shelf in the West Palawan Region (14 June 2024)

  • Summary

This legal document contains the Executive Summary of the Philippines's Partial Submission of Data and Information on the Outer Limits of the Continental Shelf of the Republic of the Philippines beyond 200 Nautical Miles in the West Palawan Region, submitted on 14 June 2024.

The West Palawan Region mentioned in the Document is visualized as in the below image.

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(English version) Resolution A.476(XII) on 19 November 1981 on Navigation through the Strait of Malacca and Singapore (Amendment to Resolution A.375)

  • Summary

This legal document contains the English version of Resolution A.476(XII) on 19 November 1981 on Navigation through the Strait of Malacca and Singapore. This Resolution is an international agreement adopted by the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization*.

This Resolution A.476(XII) amends Rule 5, Section III of Annex V to Resolution A.375(X) relating to the rules for vessels navigating through the Straits of Malacca and Singapore.

*The Inter-Governmental Consultative Maritime Organization was formally established at an international conference in Geneva in 1948. SInce 1982, it has been renamed to Inter-Governmental Maritime Organization. 

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(English version) Resolution A.375(X) on 14 November 1977 on Navigation through the Strait of Malacca and Singapore

  • Summary

This legal document contains the English version of Resolution A.375 on 14 November 1977 on Navigation through the Strait of Malacca and Singapore. This Resolution is an international agreement adopted by the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization*. The document includes specific traffic separation schemes for the One Fathom Bank (annex I), for the Singapore Strait (Annex II), and for the Horsburgh Light Area (Annex III). Annex IV of the Resolution provides deep water routes forming part of the eastbound traffic lane of the traffic separation scheme in the Singapore Strait. Annex V includes rules for vessels navigating through the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. Finally, Annex VI states the list of navigational aids to be installed or improved.

This Resolution A.375(X) would be amended by Resolution A.476(XII) on 19 November 1981.

*The Inter-Governmental Consultative Maritime Organization was formally established at an international conference in Geneva in 1948. SInce 1982, it has been renamed to Inter-Governmental Maritime Organization. 

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