Baselines of the Chinese territorial sea

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China set its official baselines for its territorial sea on May 15, 1996. These baselines cover the mainland coast and the Paracel (Xisha) Islands. The mainland baselines are straight lines connecting 49 basepoints along the outer edge of the coast and nearby islands. For the Paracel Islands, the baselines are straight lines connecting 28 basepoints on the outer islands of the group. The 1996 declaration follows China’s territorial sea and contiguous zone law, adopted on February 25, 1992. Some islands, such as Dongyin, Dongsha, Wuqiuyu and Dongdingdao, are part of Taiwan’s Lienchiang County and Kinmen County.