ASEAN

Malaysia - Philippines - Vietnam - Brunei

Malaysia:

Malaysia's claim is based on a continental shelf that projects out from its coast and includes islands and atolls south and east of Spratly Island. This claim overlaps claims by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, and overlaps reefs and cays in the Philippine's claim. Malaysia's claim was announced in 1979 in an official map publication. Malaysia established a small military garrison together with a fisheries patrol base on Swallow Reef in 1983. An airstrip was added in 1991 and a small tourist center and bird sanctuary have also been established on the island. Mariveles and Ardasier Reefs were garrisoned in 1986.

Philippines:

The Philippines bases its claims to what it calls the Kalayaan Islands on their proximity to Philippine territory and on the occupation and economic development of these previously "unattached and unused" islands by Filipino civilian settlers. Manila claims that the Kalayaans are a separate island chain from the Spratlys. The Philippines' claim overlaps those of China, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

Philippine forces began to occupy some of the islands in 1968. In 1971 the Philippines officially claimed the Kalayaan Islands, stating that any other claims to the area had lapsed by being abandoned. In 1978, the Kalayaans were formally annexed by Presidential decree. The Philippine government has stated that the islands are important for national security and economic survival due to their proximity to the main Philippine islands. The Philippines government alleges that ancient Chinese claims are invalid since these claims also included parts of what today are the Philippines,Malaysia, and Indonesia. Further, Chinese fishermen in ancient times only used the islands as a temporary base of operations.

Vietnam:

Vietnam claims that it gained sovereignty over the Spratlys and Paracels when it gained independence from France. The French had administratively claimed Spratly Island in 1929, and the French Navy took possession in 1930. In 1933, the French announced the formal occupation and annexation of nine Spratly islands.

In 1951, Vietnam asserted its claim to all the Spratly Islands, and South Vietnam reasserted this claim in 1956. From 1961, South Vietnam issued decrees covering the administration of the islands as part of Vietnamese territory. China contends that the North Vietnamese government recognized Chinese claims during 1956 - 1975, when official North Vietnamese maps and textbooks included Chinese claims.

Brunei

Brunei's claim is based upon an extension of its coastline along its continental shelf. It also overlaps those of China, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam. The extent of Brunei's claim has varied from one established by the British in 1954 (that terminated at the 100-fathom line) to a more recent claim issued in a map showing a longer extension that goes beyond Rifleman Bank. Brunei's claim is based on an interpretation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) concerning the continental shelf (UNCLOS Articles 76 and 77).

 Choi Xin Zhong,Student of 

 GSAPS, HanYang University