PH ready to engage Vietnam on overlapping seabed claim in South China Sea

The Philippines is ready to hold talks with Vietnam on its claim for an extended continental seabed in the South China Sea which may overlap with its territories, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Thursday.

While affirming its claim to its extended continental shelf in the Western Palawan region, the DFA said it is "ready to engage Vietnam on possible ways forward that would help achieve a mutually beneficial solution to South China Sea issues in accordance with international law, particularly UNCLOS.”

UNCLOS stands for United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea — regarded as the global constitution for the seas signed by162 nations, including the Philippines and Vietnam.

"We acknowledge Vietnam’s right, as a coastal State like the Philippines, to submit information to establish the outer limits of their continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from the relevant and lawful baselines from which its territorial sea is measured, as provided for under UNCLOS," a DFA statement said.

Vietnam's submission was filed more than a month after the Philippine government asked the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf to recognize its extended undersea shelf in the South China Sea, off western Palawan province, where it would have the exclusive right to manage, explore and exploit resources.

Manila's move, which rejects China's massive claim over the contested resource-rich waters, is "consistent with its maritime entitlements under UNCLOS" as demonstrated by its Extended Continental Shelf submission made on June 15, the DFA said.

China asserts “indisputable” and historical claim over nearly the entire the South China Sea, where overlapping claims have sparked conflicts among claimants.

Manila brought its disputes with China before a Netherlands arbitral tribunal, which invalidated Beijing's claim in 2016. China refused to recognized the ruling.

The Philippines said its submission “does not prejudice discussions with relevant coastal states that may have legitimate extended continental shelf claims,” leaving the door open to negotiations with its neighbors in cases where their claims overlap.  

Under UNCLOS, coastal states can make a claim to an “Extended Continental Shelf” beyond the 200-nautical mile outer limit of their exclusive economic zone or up to 350 nautical miles (648 kilometers).

Following Manila's submission, Vietnam stated it is ready to talk with the Philippines on its claim, saying a mutual solution is "beneficial for both countries."

Hanoi also said Manila has the right to file a claim under international law.

In April 2009, the Philippines made a partial submission on the Philippine Rise, which the CLCS validated in 2012, resulting in an additional 135,506 square kilometers of seabed area for the country.  — RSJ, GMA Integrated News