Baselines of the Chinese territorial sea explained

China declared its baselines for its maritime territory on 15 May 1996.[1] The baselines were for the Chinese mainland and also for the Paracel (Xisha) Islands.

The baselines for the mainland consist of a series of straight lines linking 49 basepoints situated on the outer edge along and outer islands off the coast of China. For the Paracel Islands, the baselines consist of a series of straight lines linking 28 basepoints located on the outer islands of the group.

Baselines legislation and principles

The 1996 declaration of China's baselines is based on its law on its territorial sea and the contiguous zone which was adopted on 25 February 1992. Dongyin, Dongsha, Wuqiuyu and Dongdingdao etc. are part of the Republic of China's (Taiwan) Lienchiang County and Kinmen County.

Basepoints

Mainland

PointLocationLatitudeLongitudeRemarks
1. Shandonggaojiao (1) 37° 24.0' N 122° 42.3' E
2. Shandonggaojiao (2) 37° 23.7' N 122° 42.3' E
3. Moyedao (1) 36° 57.8' N 122° 34.2' E
4. Moyedao (2) 36° 55.1' N 122° 32.7' E
5. Moyedao (3) 36° 53.7' N 122° 31.1' E
6. Sushandao 36° 44.8' N 122° 15.8' E
7. Chaoliandao 35° 53.6' N 120° 53.1' E
8. 35° 00.2' N 119° 54.2' E
9. 33° 21.8' N 121° 20.8' E
10. 33° 00.9' N 121° 38.4' E
11. 31° 25.3' N 122° 14.6' E
12. 30° 44.1' N 123° 09.4' E
13. 30° 43.5' N 123° 09.7' E
14. 30° 10.1' N 122° 56.7' E
15. Yushanliedao 28° 53.3' N 122° 16.5' E
16. Taizhouliedao (1) 28° 23.9' N 121° 55.0' E
17. Taizhouliedao (2) 28° 23.5' N 121° 54.7' E
18. Daotiaoshan 27° 27.9' N 121° 07.8' E
19. Dongyindao26° 22.6' N 120° 30.4' E(part of Dongyin Township, Lienchiang County (the Matsu Islands), ROC (Taiwan))
20. Dongshadao 26° 09.4' N 120° 24.3' E(part of Dongyin Township, Lienchiang County (the Matsu Islands), ROC (Taiwan))
21. Niushandao25° 25.8' N 119° 56.3' E
22. Wuqiuyu24° 58.6' N 119° 28.7' E(part of Wuqiu Township, Kinmen County (Quemoy), ROC (Taiwan))
23. 24° 09.7' N 118° 14.2' E(part of Jinhu Township, Kinmen County (Quemoy), ROC (Taiwan))
24. Daganshan 23° 31.9' N 117° 41.3' E
25. Nanpengliedao (1) 23° 12.9' N 117° 14.9' E
26. Nanpengliedao (2) 23° 12.3' N 117° 13.9' E
27. Shibeishanjiao 22° 56.1' N 116° 29.7' E
28. Zhentouyan 22° 18.9' N 115° 07.5' E
29. Jiapengliedao21° 48.5' N 113° 58.0' E
30. Weijiadao 21° 34.1' N 112° 47.9' E
31. Dafanshi 21° 27.7' N 112° 21.5' E
32. Qizhouliedao 19° 58.5' N 111° 16.4' E
33. Shuangfan 19° 53.0' N 111° 12.8' E
34. Dazhoudao (1) 18° 39.7' N 110° 29.6' E
35. Dazhoudao (2) 18° 39.4' N 110° 29.1' E
36. Shuangfanshi 18° 26.1' N 110° 08.4' E
37. Lingshuijiao 18° 23.0' N 110° 03.0' E
38. Dongzhou (1) 18° 11.0' N 109° 42.1' E
39. Dongzhou (2) 18° 11.0' N 109° 41.8' E
40. Jinmujiao 18° 09.5' N 109° 34.4' E
41. Shenshijiao 18° 14.6' N 109° 07.6' E
42. Xigudao 18° 19.3' N 108° 57.1' E
43. Yinggezui (1) 18° 30.2' N 108° 41.3' E
44. Yinggezui (2) 18° 30.4' N 108° 41.1' E
45. Yinggezui (3) 18° 31.0' N 108° 40.6' E
46. Yinggezui (4) 18° 31.1' N 108° 40.5' E
47. Gan'enjiao 18° 50.5' N 108° 37.3' E
48. Sigengshajiao 19° 11.6' N 108° 36.0' E
49. Junbijiao 19° 21.1' N 108° 38.6' E

Paracel Islands

PointLocationLatitudeLongitudeRemarks
1. Dongdao (1) 16° 40.5' N 112° 44.2' E
2. Dongdao (2) 16° 40.1' N 112° 44.5' E
3. Dongdao (3) 16° 39.8' N 112° 44.7' E
4. Langhuajiao (1) 16° 04.4' N 112° 35.8' E
5. Langhuajiao (2) 16° 01.9' N 112° 32.7' E
6. Langhuajiao (3) 16° 01.5' N 112° 31.8' E
7. Langhuajiao (4) 16° 01.0' N 112° 29.8' E
8. Zhongjiandao (1) 15° 46.5' N 111° 12.6' E
9. Zhongjiandao (2) 15° 46.4' N 111° 12.1' E
10. Zhongjiandao (3) 15° 46.4' N 111° 11.8' E
11. Zhongjiandao (4) 15° 46.5' N 111° 11.6' E
12. Zhongjiandao (5) 15° 46.7' N 111° 11.4' E
13. Zhongjiandao (6) 15° 46.9' N 111° 11.3' E
14. Zhongjiandao (7) 15° 47.2' N 111° 11.4' E
15. Beijiao (1) 17° 04.9' N 111° 26.9' E
16. Beijiao (2) 17° 05.4' N 111° 26.9' E
17. Beijiao (3) 17° 05.7' N 111° 27.2' E
18. Beijiao (4) 17° 06.0' N 111° 27.8' E
19. Beijiao (5) 17° 06.5' N 111° 29.2' E
20. Beijiao (6) 17° 07.0' N 111° 31.0' E
21. Beijiao (7) 17° 07.1' N 111° 31.6' E
22. Beijiao (8) 17° 06.9' N 111° 32.0' E
23. Zhaoshudao (1) 16° 59.9' N 112° 14.7' E
24. Zhaoshudao (2) 16° 59.7' N 112° 15.6' E
25. Zhaoshudao (3) 16° 59.4' N 112° 16.6' E
26. Beidao 16° 58.4' N 112° 18.3' E
27. Zhongdao 16° 57.6' N 112° 19.6' E
28. Nandao 16° 56.9' N 112° 20.5' E

See also

References

  1. Web site: Declaration of the Government of the People's Republic of China on the baselines of the territorial sea . pdf . 15 May 1996 . UN . Law of the Sea (LOS) . Legislation and Treaties .