Law of the Sea - Territorial Sea

China completed construction of 13 permanent facilities on islands and reefs in the East China Sea, in an effort to clarify the baseline for the territorial sea. A naval officer said the permanent facilities and data collection at the base points will clarify where China's territorial waters begins and provide substantial legal basis for China's claim. China has been using a string of 39 islands and reefs stretching from Shandonggaojiao, off Shandong , to Junbijiao to the west of Hainan Island, to establish its maritime baseline since 1996.