PRELIMS BITS – MAP
Why in News?
The Vietnamese government recently released a new map outlining the baseline of its Gulf of Tonkin.
Key Points:
- Baselines are essential for defining the boundaries of a country’s territorial waters and its Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs).
About the Gulf of Tonkin:
- The Gulf of Tonkin marks the maritime boundary between Vietnam and China.
- It forms the northwestern extension of the South China Sea and is bordered by:
- China (to the north and northeast),
- Hainan Island (to the east), and
- Northern Vietnam (to the west).
- The Red River flows into the gulf, supporting several major ports, including:
- Ben Thuy and Haiphong in northern Vietnam, and
- Beihai (Pakhoi) in China.