The waters around, between, and connecting the archipelago form part of which waters?

The waters around, between, and connecting the archipelago form part of which waters?

• A. Internal Waters
• B. Territorial Seas
• C. International Waters of the Philippines
• D. Contiguous Zone

Answer: (C)

The waters around, between, and connecting the islands of an archipelago are considered archipelagic waters, and in Philippine law these are treated as internal waters of the nation. This means the archipelago enjoys sovereignty over those waters just like over other internal waters, with the possibility for foreign ships to pass through designated archipelagic sea lanes under certain rules. The key idea is that archipelagic waters lie within the baselines that enclose the archipelago, not beyond them. So, the waters described are internal waters. The other options don’t fit: the territorial sea would extend only up to 12 nautical miles from the baselines, not include the internal channels between islands; the contiguous zone is up to 24 nautical miles beyond the territorial sea for specific enforcement, and international waters (high seas) lie beyond national jurisdiction. The term “International Waters of the Philippines” isn’t a standard category.

The waters around, between, and connecting the islands of an archipelago are considered archipelagic waters, and in Philippine law these are treated as internal waters of the nation. This means the archipelago enjoys sovereignty over those waters just like over other internal waters, with the possibility for foreign ships to pass through designated archipelagic sea lanes under certain rules. The key idea is that archipelagic waters lie within the baselines that enclose the archipelago, not beyond them.

So, the waters described are internal waters. The other options don’t fit: the territorial sea would extend only up to 12 nautical miles from the baselines, not include the internal channels between islands; the contiguous zone is up to 24 nautical miles beyond the territorial sea for specific enforcement, and international waters (high seas) lie beyond national jurisdiction. The term “International Waters of the Philippines” isn’t a standard category.