Diplomatic notes and the South China Sea disputes

A note verbale is among the many forms of diplomatic correspondence available to governments. In contemporary diplomatic communication, a note verbale is also referred to as a diplomatic note since English has come to be considered the lingua franca of diplomacy. It is a formal note written in the third person, less formal than first-person notes, and more formal than aide-memoires. It is a note that may be addressed to a foreign minister or ministry, or to a permanent representative or mission. The typical uses of a note verbale include the exchange of information between the United Nations (UN) and governments or permanent missions, and requests for and acknowledgements of information and documents.4 The note’s nature is that of a memorandum and is unsigned.