Boundary Issues

Sine Boundary or Territorial Issues in 2011

United States views on international law (based on the document “Digest of U.S. Practice in International Law”): On July 22, 2011, after the ASEAN Regional Forum, the State Department issued a press statement by Secretary Clinton explaining the U.S. position on territorial and maritime disputes in the South China Sea. The July 22 statement is excerpted below. The full text of the press statement is available at (internet link) state.gov/secretary/rm/2011/07/168989.htm. Secretary Clinton provided similar explanations of the U.S. position on the South China Sea on other occasions in 2011. Her June 2, 2011 remarks after a meeting with Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario of the Philippines are available at (internet link) state.gov/secretary/rm/2011/06/166868.htm. Secretary Clinton's remarks on November 16, 2011 also included some discussion of the South China Sea and are available at (internet link) state.gov/secretary/rm/2011/11/177234.htm. see this world legal encyclopedia in relation with the year 2010 at 513-14 for Secretary Clinton's remarks in 2010 on the South China Sea disputes.

Developments

The United States supports a collaborative diplomatic process by all claimants for resolving the various disputes in the South China Sea. We also support the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. But we do not take a position on the competing territorial claims over land features in the South China Sea. We believe all parties should pursue their territorial claims and accompanying rights to maritime space in accordance with international law, including as reflected in the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention.

The United States is concerned that recent incidents in the South China Sea threaten the peace and stability on which the remarkable progress of the Asia-Pacific region has been built. These incidents endanger the safety of life at sea, escalate tensions, undermine freedom of navigation, and pose risks to lawful unimpeded commerce and economic development.

…[E]ach of the parties should comply with their commitments to respect freedom of navigation and over-flight in the South China Sea in accordance with international law, to resolve their disputes through peaceful means, without resorting to the threat or use of force. They should exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability including, among others, refraining from taking action to inhabit presently uninhabited islands, reefs, shoals, cays, and other features, and to handle their differences in a constructive manner.

The United States encourages all parties to accelerate efforts to reach a full Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.

We also call on all parties to clarify their claims in the South China Sea in terms consistent with customary international law, including as reflected in the Law of the Sea Convention. Consistent with international law, claims to maritime space in the South China Sea should be derived solely from legitimate claims to land features.

Law of the Sea and Related Boundary Issues

In relation to the international law practice and law of the sea and related boundary issues in this world legal Encyclopedia, please see the following section:

Territorial Regimes and Related Issues

About this subject:

UN Convention on the Law of the Sea

Note: there is detailed information and resources under these topics during the year 2013, covered by this entry on law of the sea and related boundary issues in this law Encyclopedia.

Resources

See Also

• Territorial Regimes And Related Issues
• Law Of The Sea
• Boundary Issues