Territorial Dispute [TG-Closed, Diplomatic, Attn: Spratly]

[Nacrad]

[ATTN: Port Spratly]

13 May, some time in the afternoon, about 50 km from Pratas Island.

A group of researchers are in a ship, heading for Pratas Island located (supposedly) near the edge of Nacradian territorial waters. Just as they were preparing their equipment, a transmission came through on the radio.

"This is the Port Spratly Navy to unidentified vessel near Pratas Island. You have entered Port Spratly waters. Please broadcast your hull number, souls on board, and purpose of entry."

"Err, this is the vessel you're calling. Hull number is 135-321-AGN-5NG, we have 10 souls on board, we are heading to Pratas Island for research."

"Understood. You have not registered with Port Spratly authorities, but we will exercise discretion and let you carry out scientific research under our supervision. Please let us board and inspect your ship."

The Port Spratly navy servicemembers boarded the ship, and searched to find nothing but scientific equipment. The researchers landed on Pratas Island, deployed their equipment, then erected a small Nacradian flag, before being asked to take the flag down because "it is the territory of Port Spratly, not Nacrad."

Regardless, the researchers can't be bothered to argue, and planned to report it to the Port Spratly embassy back at home. Soldiers don't make good negotiators, after all.

The report to the Port Spratly embassy, however, also fell on blind ears. So, they turned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who acknowledged it and said that they will be looking into the issue. And they did, as a letter was sent to Port Spratly quickly.

5 Parliament Drive, Government Hill, Riverfort, Nacrad
From: Mr. Jackson N. Mann, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nacrad
To: Mr. Gao Hairan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Port Spratly
Subject: RE: Transgression of Territory by Port Spratly Armed Forces

Dear HE Mr. Gao Hairan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Port Spratly

I am writing to inform you and your nation that the Armed Forces of your nation has infringed on the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Nacrad in the South Sea.

On 13 May 2020, at around 4 p.m. GMT+8, a group of researchers from the Riverfort State University heading for Pratas Islands, claimed as an oceanic territory under Oswain, had been intercepted by members of the Port Spratly Armed Forces (PSAF), who claimed that Pratas Islands is under the jurisdiction of Port Spratly, and insisted on overseeing the researchers' work on the island, then asking them to take down the Nacradian flag attached on the sustained observation probe stationed on the island.

It should be established that Pratas Island lies fully within the claimed territory of Nacrad, and that Port Spratly may have mistaken Pratas Islands with another piece of territory in its fair nation. However, a short talk with the Honorable Ambassador Mr. Chan has revealed that the Federal Republic of Nacrad and the Republic of Port Spratly has an unresolved, and until recently, undiscovered territorial dispute, specifically on the Pratas Islands and the surrounding 50,000 square kilometers of ocean surrounding that island.

Please relay this information to the relevant bureaux, and please let us know when is a good time to meet and discuss this issue so that it may be settled.

Yours sincerely,
Jackson Newton Mann
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nacrad
30 May 2020

[Port Spratly]

Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the The Republic of Port Spratly
on
Water Incidents of May 13, 2020

Regardless of repeated strong representations of the Port Spratly side, the Nacrad government announced the so-called "nationalization" of the several islands and atolls within Port Spratly territory. This constitutes a violation of Port Spratly's sovereignty over its own territory and is highly offensive to the People of Port Spratly. The Port Spratly government and people express firm opposition to and strong protest against the move of Nacrad Government.

The Dongsha Island and its affiliated islands and atolls have been internationally recognized as Port Spratly's sacred territory since. This is supported by historical facts and jurisprudential evidence that islands and atolls within the South China Sea belong to Port Spratly except for Hainan and its affiliated islands. The Port Spratly government has always attached importance to developing relations with Nacradian. Port Spratly and Nacradian peoples can live together only in friendship, not confrontation. To advance the Port Spratly - Nacradian strategic relationship of mutual benefit serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and two peoples and is conducive to peace, stability, and development of the region. Yet, to ensure the sound and stable development of Port Spratly-Nacrad relations, the Nacradian side needs to work together and move in the same direction with Port Spratly.

In 2012 National Spratly University's Dongsha Atoll Research Station (DARS) was established for biology, biogeochemistry, and oceanography research. Port Spratly government is inviting scientists worldwide to participate and working together in constructive manners. Port Spratly Government is open for productive cooperation not only in research activities but also in other possible fields such as environmental protection, fisheries, energy, and other possible cooperations with principles of equality, respect, and mutually - beneficial.

[Nacrad]

Federal Republic of Nacrad
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Official Statement on the Incidents Around Pratas (Dongsha) Island on 13 May 2020

It was brought to our attention that the Republic of Port Spratly has accused the Federal Republic of Nacrad of "nationalising" the Pratas Islands, after the letter towards their Minister of Foreign Affairs, which can be browsed under the "Recent Communiques" section. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs denies such allegations, as the Federal Republic of Nacrad, and by extension her territorial claims, has remained unchanged in the sector ever since the adoption of the current constitution in 1920, predating the founding of the Republic of Port Spratly.

As stated by Section 1 Clause b "Maritime Borders" Part iii, the maritime boundary of Nacrad is bounded as "the line of latitude 19°43' N, from 112°0' E to 119°10' E", as defined by the 1920 Constitution. Pratas Island, lying at 20°41'28.4"N, 116°46'27.7"E, naturally lies within Nacradian waters. For the curious, the full maritime and land borders, with state borders included, can be found in Appendix I.

This claim was not, and has never been, challenged by the international community, nor have we even been informed of the overlap in claim, even after the founding of the Republic of Port Spratly. We hope that this can clarify the current events going on around Pratas Island at this moment.

At this moment, the Pratas Unincorporated Territory, which comprises of the island in question, has been declared an International Free Zone, which makes the area a lesser-sovereign zone of Nacrad. We wish to hold dialogue with the Republic of Port Spratly, so that we can settle this dispute.

APPENDIX I

OOC: Sorry for poor quality. Also the Chinese names in my nation are mostly non-canon

https://imgur.com/a/yI9Henp

[Nacrad]

/bump