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.

1995 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.

1995 FAO Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas.

2009 FAO Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing.

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

Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Defense of the United States of America and the Ministry of National Defense of the People’s Republic of China Regarding the Rules of Behavior for Air Safety and Maritime Encounters (November 9-10, 2014)

Supplement to the Memorandum of Understanding On the Rules of Behavior for Safety Of Air and Maritime Encounters between the Department of Defense of the United States of America And the Ministry of National Defense of the People’s Republic of China (“Air-to-Air Annex”) (September 15 and 18, 2015)


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.