9/23/25, 7:00 AM Explain UNCLOS topics

I see your uploaded file on UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea).
Let me break it down into the main topics with explanations and simple examples so you
can easily understand:

1. Law of the Sea

Explanation: It’s the set of international rules that govern how countries use the ocean
and its resources.

Example: If two countries want to fish in the same area, UNCLOS provides the rules on
who has the rights and how to share responsibly.

2. Principles of the Law of the Sea

Freedom → Everyone can use the seas for navigation, fishing, or laying submarine
cables.
Example: Ships from any country can freely cross the Pacific Ocean.
Sovereignty → Coastal states have authority over waters near their shores.
Example: The Philippines controls activities within its territorial sea.
Common Heritage of Mankind → Deep seabed resources belong to all humanity.
Example: No single country can claim ownership of minerals found in the deep ocean.

3. Baselines
Explanation: A baseline is the starting point from which a coastal state measures its
maritime zones (territorial sea, EEZ, etc.).
Types & Examples:
Normal baseline → Low-water mark along the coast.
Example: The coastline of Palawan measured during low tide.
Straight baseline → Connects points along a deeply indented coast.
Example: Norway’s fjords.
Closing line across bays → Water inside becomes internal waters.
Example: Manila Bay enclosed by a baseline.

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9/23/25, 7:00 AM Explain UNCLOS topics

Archipelagic baseline → For island nations like the Philippines and Indonesia.

4. Archipelagic States (UNCLOS III, Art. 46–47)

Explanation: Countries made up of islands can draw straight baselines around the
outermost islands.
Example: The Philippines connects its outer islands with archipelagic baselines,
making the waters inside part of its internal waters.

5. Territorial Sea & Innocent Passage

Explanation: A country controls up to 12 nautical miles from its baseline. Foreign
ships can pass, but only if their passage is “innocent.”

Example: A Japanese ship can sail through Philippine waters peacefully, but it cannot
spy or fish without permission.

6. Continental Shelf
Explanation: The seabed that extends naturally from a country’s land, up to 200
nautical miles, where states have exclusive rights to resources.
Example: The Philippines can mine natural gas in the Reed Bank area of the West
Philippine Sea because it is part of its continental shelf.

7. International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS)

Explanation: A court that settles disputes about the sea under UNCLOS.

Example: The Philippines vs. China (2016 case) over the West Philippine Sea was
decided under UNCLOS rules (though China rejected the ruling).

👉 Would you like me to also create a diagram/visual summary (like a mind map of
UNCLOS topics: baselines, zones, rights, etc.) so it’s easier to study?

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9/23/25, 7:00 AM Explain UNCLOS topics

explain and give examples for every slide in the file

Got it 👍 You want me to go slide by slide through your uploaded UNCLOS file and
explain + give simple examples for each. Your file has about 30+ slides (based on the
extracted text). I’ll summarize each one in clear terms with examples so it’s easier to
review.

Slide Explanations with Examples

Slide 1–2: Law of the Sea

Explanation: International rules that regulate how countries use the seas (navigation,
fishing, resources, etc.).

Example: The Philippines and Vietnam must follow the law of the sea when fishing in
the South China Sea.

Slide 3–4: Principles of the Law of the Sea

1. Freedom – All states can navigate and use the seas.
Example: A US cargo ship passes through the Indian Ocean.
2. Sovereignty – Coastal states have control over waters near them.
Example: The Philippines enforces fishing bans in its territorial sea.
3. Common Heritage of Mankind – Deep seabed resources are shared by all.
Example: No single country owns the resources in the Mariana Trench.

Slide 5–6: Codification of the Law of the Sea

Explanation: Efforts to formalize sea laws:

1. Hague Conference (1930)

2. UNCLOS I (1958)
3. UNCLOS II (1960)

4. UNCLOS III (1973–1982) → Most important, gave us the modern law.

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9/23/25, 7:00 AM Explain UNCLOS topics

Example: UNCLOS III established EEZs (Exclusive Economic Zones) up to 200 nm.

Slide 7–8: Baselines

Explanation: Starting point to measure maritime zones.

Example: From Manila Bay’s coastline, the Philippines measures its 12 nm territorial
sea.

Slide 9–10: Types of Baselines

1. Normal baseline → low-water mark along coast.
Example: Palawan’s coastline.

2. Straight baseline → for deeply indented coasts.

Example: Norway’s fjords.
3. Closing lines across river mouths/bays.
Example: Closing line across Subic Bay.

4. Archipelagic baselines → for island nations.

Example: Philippines joining its outer islands.

Slide 11–13: Archipelagic Baselines

Explanation: Group of islands treated as one unit.

Requirements: group of islands, historical practice, compactness.

Example: Indonesia and the Philippines both qualify.

Slide 14: Coastal vs. Outlying Archipelago

Coastal archipelago → Close to mainland.
Example: Islands near Greece.

Outlying archipelago → Mid-ocean group of islands.

Example: Maldives.

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9/23/25, 7:00 AM Explain UNCLOS topics

Slide 15–17: Rules for Drawing Archipelagic Baselines

Examples:

Baselines cannot exceed 100 nm (except 3% up to 125 nm).

Cannot block another state’s access to the sea.

Must show on official charts.

Example: The Philippines filed its baselines law with the UN in 2009.

Slide 18–19: Obligations of Archipelagic States

Respect traditional fishing rights of others.
Example: Filipino waters allow traditional fishing by neighboring Indonesians.

Allow innocent passage & sea lanes passage.

Example: A Japanese cargo ship passes through Philippine archipelagic waters.

Slide 20–22: Territorial Sea Obligations

Explanation: Up to 12 nm from baseline → state controls waters.

Obligations: protect environment, ensure safety, respect navigation.

Example: Philippine Coast Guard patrolling 12 nm around Palawan.

Slide 23–24: Innocent Passage

Explanation: Foreign ships may pass if peaceful (no fishing, spying, weapons use).
Example: A Chinese cargo ship can pass through Philippine seas, but not a warship
firing missiles.

Slide 25–26: Submarine Rules

Explanation: Submarines must travel surfaced and show flag in territorial sea.

Example: A US submarine must surface when passing near Luzon.

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9/23/25, 7:00 AM Explain UNCLOS topics

Slide 27–31: Continental Shelf

Explanation: Seabed and subsoil up to 200 nm or further if natural prolongation.
Coastal states have sovereign rights to explore resources.
Example: The Philippines can extract natural gas from the Malampaya gas field.

Slide 32–33: International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS)
Explanation: A UN body to settle sea disputes. Has 21 judges.
Example: The Philippines brought its case against China (2013) to an UNCLOS
tribunal.

✅ That covers all major slides from your file with clear explanations + real examples.

Would you like me to turn this into a study reviewer (Q&A format) so you can quiz
yourself more easily?

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