TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan labeled South China Sea claims submitted to the United Nations (UN) by Vietnam and the Philippines as “unacceptable” on Friday (July 19).

“The actions of the Philippines and Vietnam in the South China Sea have violated our country’s territorial sovereignty, and our rights under international law and the law of the sea,” Taiwan’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterates that the islands of the South China Sea belong to the territory of the Republic of China,” the statement read, invoking Taiwan’s formal name.

Vietnam submitted a formal claim to an extended continental shelf to the UN Commision on the Limits of the Continental Shelf on Thursday, while the Philippines presented its own claim a month earlier. 

An extended continental shelf gives a state sovereignty over parts of the sea beyond their 200 nautical mile (370 km) continental shelf, and is recognized by the UN's comission if certain conditions are met.

On Thursday, China’s foreign ministry also opposed the submissions. China has made “serious protests” to Vietnam, spokesperson Lin Jian (林剑) said.

If the claims are accepted, the extended continental shelf claims of the Philippines and Vietnam would likely extend to areas that include islands under Taiwan’s control. Of its South China Sea claims, Taiwan controls Taiping Island, the Dongsha Islands, and Zhongzhou Reef.

Taiwan’s claims in the South China Sea are not recognized under international law. All of the islands Taiwan claims or controls are also claimed by either China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia, or some combination thereof.