Q. Consider the following statements regarding Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs):

1. The countries have exclusive rights to territorial sea up to 100 nautical miles from the baseline.
2. Foreign vessels have freedom of navigation in the EEZ.
3. Submarine pipes and cables can be laid down by foreign countries within EEZs.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Answer: Only 2 and 3
Notes: Statement 1 is incorrect as the territorial sea extends up to 12 nautical miles, not 100, from the baseline. EEZs extend up to 200 nautical miles. Statements 2 and 3 are correct: the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) provides foreign vessels freedom of navigation in EEZs and allows all states to lay submarine cables and pipelines in EEZs.