Vietnam objects to China's new baseline in the Gulf of Tonkin, potentially affecting freedom of navigation under UNCLOS.

Vietnam objects to China's new baseline in the Gulf of Tonkin, a waterway between China's Hainan Island and Vietnam. This redefinition of coastal waters, according to UNCLOS, may impact freedom of navigation in the region. Critics argue China's baseline expansion, which includes drawing straight lines between distant islands, goes beyond the convention's exceptions for close-in coastal islands and other unique features.

March 31, 2024
3 Articles