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Territorial Disputes: The South China Sea: Treaties and Agreements

This Research Guide provides links to primary documents, reports, periodical articles, and books on disputes and state claims in the South China Sea.

Treaties & Agreements

Agreement on the Basic Principles Guiding the Settlement of Sea-Related Matters between the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and the People’s Republic of China
11 October 2011
ASEAN Declaration on the South China Sea
Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea
China and ASEAN, 4 November 2002; non-binding agreement
Documents on ASEAN and South China Sea
Japan-U.S. Security Treaty
19 January 1960
Law on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone (Territorial Waters Act)
A unilateral declaration introduced by China 25 February 1992
Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia
24 February 1976
Treaty of Taipei
Japan–Taiwan treaty, 28 April 1952; see article 2
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
10 December 1982