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Question 85

With reference to the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea, consider the following statements :
1. A coastal state has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles, measured from baseline determined in accordance with the convention.
2. Ships of all states, whether coastal or land-locked, enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea.
3. The Exclusive Economic Zone shall not extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

AOptions

A) 1 and 2 only

B) 2 and 3 only

C) 1 and 3 only

D) 1, 2 and 3

BSolution

Statement 1 is correct. Article 3 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) states that every State has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles, measured from baselines determined in accordance with the Convention.

Statement 2 is correct. Article 17 of UNCLOS grants ships of all States, whether coastal or land-locked, the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea. Innocent passage means navigating through the territorial sea without prejudice to the peace, good order, or security of the coastal State.

Statement 3 is correct. Article 57 of UNCLOS specifies that the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) shall not extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured. Within this zone, the coastal State has sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring and exploiting, conserving and managing natural resources, whether living or non-living, of the waters superjacent to the seabed and of the seabed and its subsoil.

Therefore, all three statements are correct.

CStrategy

For international conventions like UNCLOS, understanding the key definitions (e.g., territorial sea, EEZ) and fundamental rights/rules associated with them is crucial. Pay attention to specific distance limits and rights granted to different types of states.

DSyllabus Analysis

This question pertains to International Relations and Geography, specifically focusing on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and its provisions regarding maritime zones.

EQuestion Analysis

Medium. While UNCLOS is a significant convention, knowing the precise nautical mile limits and specific rights like innocent passage for all states requires detailed knowledge of its articles.