Vietnam's Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday that it had filed a claim at the United Nations to extend the continental shelf in the South China Sea. This comes a month after the Philippines took a similar step.

In a press release, the Foreign Ministry said that the submission of the continental shelves beyond the 200 nautical mile limit is an exercise of rights and obligations for state parties according to the maritime framework.

The statement said that this is Vietnam's third ECS submission. This includes a submission for the North Area of South China Sea, or Vietnam's East Sea, and a joint submission made with Malaysia in 2009 in relation to the southern portion of the area.

China claims nearly the entire South China Sea. This includes parts claimed by Brunei Malaysia Taiwan and Vietnam. The strategic waterway is rich in fish and oil deposits. It also has natural gas reserves.

Vietnam's Foreign Ministry said that Vietnam sent a verbale note to the Secretary General of the U.N. stating Vietnam's position on the Philippines' submission made last month.

It added that "Vietnam affirms once again its sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel), and Truong Sa, (Spratly), archipelagos according to international law." (Reporting and editing by Christian Schmollinger; Phuong Nguyen)