On June 30, 2004, on the occasion of the entry into force of the agreement on the delimitation of border in the Beibu Bay and the agreement on fishing cooperation (AFC) in the Beibu Bay between China and Vietnam, Mr. Wang Yi, head of delegation of the Chinese government to the border negotiations between China and Vietnam and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, was exclusively interviewed by correspondent of Xinhua News Agency, stressing that this is the first sea border demarcated between China and its neighboring countries through negotiations and should therefore become a bond of peace, friendship and cooperation between the two peoples.
Q: Why is the demarcation of border in Beibu Bay between China and Vietnam?
Wang Yi: Beibu Bay is a semi-enclosed bay in the arms of the land of the two countries and the Hainan Island of China, covering an area of 128,000 square kilometers, and had never been demarcated in history before mid 1970s when the two countries started the delimitation negotiations. After 1980s, with the new sea order gradually formed, China and Vietnam approved the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) respectively in 1996 and 1994. According to this new regime, countries with a coastline claim not only 12 miles of territorial sea but also 200 miles of exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. However, in the case of Beibu Bay, which is jointly owned by China and Vietnam, the widest area spans only 180 miles. That means that the whole Beibu Bay is an overlapping area of the claims of China and Vietnam, which calls for a clear-cut border line delimited through negotiations between the two countries.
With the gradual application of the regime of exclusive economic zone in different countries, traditional rights to fishery were buffeted. In the case of Beibu Bay, fishing disputes between China and Vietnam were increasing every day, which was detrimental not only to the interests of their fishermen but also to the smooth development of their bilateral relations. These new situations spelled the need for the two sides to demarcate the border as early as possible and establish a new cooperation mechanism for fishery.
Q: What is the comment of the Chinese side on the result of the delimitation of border?
Wang Yi: The demarcation of border in Beibu Bay has a direct bearing on China's sovereignty over territory. Therefore, the Chinese government and leaders had always placed a high priority on the issue and set up an negotiation team comprised of related departments to carefully study the issue and come up with an operable and practical solution. The same is true with Vietnam. Then the negotiations kicked off. After the negotiations entered the stage of substantive discussions, with the leaders of the two countries attaching great importance and support in person, the two sides finally finished the delimitation work after prolonged, complicated and patient negotiations in the spirit of mutual understanding and accommodation and friendly consultations in accordance with internationally accepted principles of international law, including the UNCLOS, and the principle of maintaining fairness and at the same time giving full consideration to all the facets of the issue in Beibu Bay.
The agreement on the demarcation of border in Beibu Bay defined the China-Vietnam line of delimitation of the territorial sea, the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in Beibu Bay. In accordance with the proposal of China that the political and geographical relations between the two countries should maintain an overall balance in Beibu Bay, the sea areas demarcated to the two countries were basically equivalent, which was a fair result and at the same time realized the appropriate distribution of resources in Beibu Bay. This is a successful practice of the two countries in adapting themselves to the new sea order and fairly delimiting the sea borders. It also shows that the two sides have the capability and wisdom to resolve the outstanding cases existing for a long time in the relations between the two countries through friendly consultations. Not long ago, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China and the Congress of Vietnam had a smooth review and approval of the agreement respectively, which shows that the result of the delimitation has won wide appreciation and support from all walks of life of the two countries.
Q: What is the influence of the delimitation of border on the utilization of the fishing resources in Beibu Bay?
Wang Yi: The Beibu Bay is the traditional fishing area of fishermen in Guangxi, Guangdong and Hainan of China, so the demarcation has a direct bearing on the distribution and utilization of the fishing resources and the concrete interests of the Chinese fishermen in the area. Bearing this in mind, from the very outset of the border negotiations, the Chinese government attached great importance to safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the fishermen there. The Chinese side explicitly demanded that in the process of the delimitation the fishery issue must be addressed properly and that the delimitation agreement must be signed and enter into force at the same time with the fishery cooperation agreement (AFC). Apart from the need for demarcation in Beibu Bay, there is an even greater need for establishing long-term fishery cooperation between the two sides according to the new sea order. The competent departments of Vietnam showed full understanding for this demand. Finally, on the very day of the signing of the delimitation agreement, the agreement on fishery cooperation (AFC) in Beibu Bay was also signed. Afterwards, the fishery departments of the two sides formulated concrete implementation measures for the AFC agreement after nearly three years of negotiations.
On the basis of mutual respect for each other's sovereignty and jurisdiction, the two sides defined a large co-fishing area where fishing boats of both countries can enter for fishing operations. The co-fishing area spans the sea area of both sides and covers most of the high and medium-productivity fishing areas in Beibu Bay. This area will be co-fished for 15 years. In addition, the two sides defined a piece of 4-year-long cross-border transitional arrangement waters north of the co-fishing area, where fishing boats of both countries can also enter for fishing operations. Moreover, the AFC agreement explicitly says that the two sides will engage in long-term fishery cooperation in the co-fishing area in the spirit of mutual benefit, that the two sides agree to jointly formulate measures on the maintenance, management and sustainability of biological resources to maintain the normal fishing operations of the fishermen, and that the two sides also agree to establish a Beibu Bay Joint Committee on Fishery to put in place what is agreed with regard to the cooperation. It can be said that these arrangements have safeguarded the righteous interests of fishermen around the bay to the largest extent, signaled the launching of the new model of fishery cooperation between China and Vietnam, and realized the transition to the new sea order. The Beibu Bay is abundant with fishing resources, which are nevertheless limited. The uncontained fishing over the past many years has exerted negative impact on the sustainability of the fishing resources there. The signing of the AFC agreement is conducive to the renewal of the fishing resources in the Bay.
Q: What significance does the signing of the agreements on delimitation of border and fishery cooperation in Beibu Bay hold?
Wang Yi: The signing of the agreements on delimitation of border and fishery cooperation in Beibu Bay is another important achievement in resolving the outstanding issues left over from history between China and Vietnam since the signing of the land boundary treaty between the two countries in 1999. The signing of the two agreements conforms to the common interests of both countries and peoples, is conducive to realizing the long-term stability in the Beibu Bay and is of great significance to promoting the long-term and stable development of China-Vietnam relations.
The delimitation of border in Beibu Bay is in itself a new contribution to peace and stability in the region. China's sea areas are adjacent or facing to those of 8 neighboring countries and all those areas are involved in the issue of border demarcation. The delimited border line in the Beibu Bay is the first sea border demarcated between China and its neighboring countries through negotiations. Its process of delimitation fully shows the sincerity of China to resolve issues related to demarcation of sea border through peaceful negotiations and accumulated experience for China to delimit sea borders with other neighboring countries through negotiations in the future. This will not only help strengthen the mutual trust between China and its neighboring countries but also will contribute to peace and stability in this region.
Q: After the entry into force of the two agreements, what follow-up activities are left for the two sides?
Wang Yi: First, the two sides need to conduct consultations to decide on and implement new regulations on fishing activities under the new regime and protect the normal operations of fishermen in the area. Second, the two sides should enhance communication work oriented towards local administrative departments and fishermen so that they can understand the main spirit and content of the agreements and voluntarily safeguard and abide by the agreements. It takes time to adapt to the implementation of the agreements, especially when the agreements have just entered into force, because at this stage it is highly probable that some new situations or problems will pop up. Therefore it calls for the two sides to proceed from the overall perspective of the friendly relations between the two countries and address the problems in the spirit of mutual understanding and cooperation. In sum, the two sides should take the opportunity of the entry into force of the agreements to make the new sea border a bond of peace, friendship and cooperation to bring benefits to both peoples.
