Declaration of the Government of the People's Republic of China on the Territorial Sea

The People's Republic of China hereby announces:

(1) The width of the territorial sea of the People's Republic of China is twelve national miles. This provision applies to all Territories of the People's Republic of China, including the mainland China and offshore islands, Taiwan (separated from the mainland and offshore islands by high seas) and its surrounding is islands, the Penghu Archipelago, the Dongsha Islands, the Xisha Islands, the Zhongsha Islands, the Nansha islands and other islands belonging to China.

(2) The straight lines linking each basic pint at the mainland's coasts and offshore outlying islands are regarded as base lines of the territorial sea of the mainland China and offshore islands. The waters extending twelve nautical miles away from the base lines are China's territorial sea. The waters inside the base lines, including Bohai Bay and Giongzhou Strait, are China's inland sea. The islands inside the base lines, including Dongyin Island, Gaodeng Island, Mazu Island, Baiquan Island, Niaoqin Island, big and Small Jinmen Island, Dadam Island, Erdan island and Dongding Island, are China's inland sea islands.

(3) Without the permit of the government of the People's Republic of China all foreign aircrafts and military vessels shall not be allowed to enter China's territorial sea and the sky above the territorial sea. Any foreign vessel sailing in China's territorial sea must comply with the relevant orders of the government of the People's Republic of China.

(4) The above provisions (2) and (3) also apply to Taiwan and its surrounding islands, the Penghu Islands, the Dongsha Islands, the Xisha Islands, the Zhongsha Islands, the Nansha Islands and other islands belonging to China.

Taiwan and Penghu are still occupied with force by the USA. This is an illegality violating the People's Republic of China's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Taiwan and Penghu are waiting for recapture. The People's Republic of China has rights to take all appropriate measures to recapture these places in due course. It is China's internal affairs which should not be interfered by any foreign country.