Multilateral Treaties and Agreements
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), also called the Law of the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea Treaty, is the international agreement that resulted from the third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, which took place between 1973 and 1982. UNCLOS defines the rights and responsibilities of nations with respect to their use of the world’s oceans, establishing guidelines for businesses, the environment, and the management of marine natural resources.
ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation
The ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation provides guidance for intra-ASEAN cooperation, as well as ASEAN engagement with external partners such as the United States and China. The principles of the treaty reflect the ASEAN members’ historical preferences and priorities for management of contentious issues. The treaty, concluded in 1976, was opened to accession by external states; China acceded in 2003, , and the United States dthe same in 2009.
Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea
The Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, signed by China and the members of ASEAN in Phnom Penh in 2002, reaffirms freedom of navigation and overflight, peaceful settlement of disputes, and self-restraint in the conduct of activities.
Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea
The Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea is a non-binding multilateral agreement standardizing safety protocols, basic communications, and basic maneuvering at sea for ships and aircraft. Over twenty countries adopted the code in 2014 at the Western Pacific Naval Symposium in Qingdao, China.
Fisheries Agreements
The Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks. Signed August 4, 1995, entered into force December 11, 2001.
Defense Treaties, Agreements, and Joint Statements
Defense Treaties
U.S.-Japan
Security Treaty Between the United States of American and Japan (September 8, 1951)
U.S.-Japan Security Treaty (January 19, 1960)
The Guidelines for U.S.-Japan Defense Cooperation (November 27, 1978)
The Guidelines for U.S.-Japan Defense Cooperation (September 23, 1997)
The Guidelines for U.S.-Japan Defense Cooperation (April 27, 2015)
U.S.-Philippines
Mutual Defense Treaty Between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States of America (August 30, 1951)
Reaffirmation through the Manila Declaration (November 11, 2011)
Visiting Forces Agreement (June 1, 1999)
Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (April 28, 2014)
U.S.-South Korea
Mutual Defense Treaty Between the United States and the Republic of Korea (October 1, 1953)
Joint Statement of U.S.-ROK Foreign and Defense Ministers’ Meeting
U.S.-Thailand
Originally established through the Manila Pact, forming the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO)
Manila Pact remains valid despite an end to SEATO
Thanat-Rusk Communique (March 6, 1962)
Joint Vision Statement for Thai-U.S. Defense Alliance (November 15, 2012)
U.S.-China
Multilateral
1971 Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA) – United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, and Singapore
Maritime Delimitation Agreements and Decisions
China and the Philippines
Merits award in the matter of the South China Sea arbitration before an arbitral tribunal constituted under Annex VII to the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea between the Republic of the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China. Published July 12, 2016.
China and Vietnam
Agreement between the People’s Republic of China and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam on the Delimitation of the Territorial Seas, the Exclusive Economic Zones and Continental Shelves. Signed December 25, 2000, entered into force June 30, 2004.
Malaysia and Indonesia
Treaty between the Republic of Indonesia and Malaysia Relating to the Delimitation of the Territorial Seas of the Two Countries in the Strait of Malacca. Signed March 17, 1970
Agreement between the Government of Malaysia and the Government of Indonesia on the Delimitation of the Continental Shelves between the Two Countries. Signed October 27, 1969.
Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand
Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Indonesia, the Government of Malaysia and the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand Relating to the Delimitation of the Continental Shelf Boundaries in the Northern Part of the Strait of Malacca. Signed December 21, 1971.
Malaysia and Singapore
Agreement between the Government of Malaysia and the Government of the Republic of Singapore to Delimit Precisely the Territorial Waters Boundary in Accordance with the Straits Settlements and Johore Territorial Waters Agreement 1927. Signed 1995.
ITLOS Case Concerning Land Reclamation by Singapore in and around the Straits of Johor (Malaysia v Singapore). Decided April 26, 2005.
ICJ Ruling on Sovereignty over Pedra Branca/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge. Decided May 2008.
Malaysia and Thailand
Treaty between the Kingdom of Thailand and Malaysia Relating to the Delimitation of the Territorial Seas of the Two Countries. Signed October 24, 1979, entered into force July 15, 1982.
Memorandum of Understanding between the Kingdom of Thailand and Malaysia on the Delimitation of the Continental Shelf Boundary between the Two Countries in the Gulf of Thailand. Signed October 24, 1979, entered into force July 15, 1982.
Vietnam and Indonesia
Agreement between the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Government of the Republic of Indonesia Concerning the Delimitation of the Continental Shelf Boundary. Signed June 26, 2003, entered into force May 29, 2007.
Vietnam and Malaysia
Joint submission to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (in the southern part of the South China Sea), May 6, 2009.
Vietnam and Thailand
Agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam on the Delimitation of the Maritime Boundary between the Two Countries in the Gulf of Thailand. Signed August 9, 1997.
