A Charlie-flagged ship, Revenge VII was intercepted by Foxtrot country in the international waters carrying 60 tons of weapons such as skyrockets, high explosives, and bomb-making technology, bound for troop camping in Alpha. Following that, the state portrayed the boarding of the Foxtrot leatherneck as a breach of international navigation freedom (Koh, 1985). The boarding by Foxtrot marines in the territorial sea was legal. This was right because Delta, a country that claims a twelve nautical international waters, has agreed to the usage of the blue straits to other countries and is ready to allow humanitarian aid to traverse the blue straits in innocent passage. This indicates any government prepared to give humanitarian assistance is free to use the blue straits. The blue strait is used by country Echo to ferry humanitarian material to the affected population in Alpha and Bravo, meaning that Foxtrot marines could freely navigate through the seas.
Despite an agreement of the strait usage by Delta, Charlie disallows the transits claiming that such transition is not innocent. Notwithstanding Alpha, a region claiming a 12-nautical-mile territorial sea, needs the authority to restrict clear passage in the territorial sea (Oxman, 2006). This means that the country would time deny other countries access to the territorial sea. Additionally, in preparation for the United Nations protection council action, Bravo announced that a flotilla of foreign warships, submarines, and aircraft were heading towards the blue strait, bringing to the aid of the affected nation. This means that the marines had the right to navigate in the sea. At the same time, Charlie and Delta claim that the straits are Delta and Charlie’s territorial sea hence denying other countries to use the blue straits. Alpha, the owner of the ferried weapons, has a 200-mile exclusive economic zone and allows innocent passage for all nations. This means that other empires carry weapons to other states through the territory.
Alpha and Bravo have offshore oil wells in their own’s EEZ and claim that since the oil is joined under the seabed, the oil is entitled to a third share of the production platforms. The above indicates that the country is more concerned with the growth of other countries. Alpha requires 24-nautical-mile adjoining terrain and limits some occurrences (Posner & Sykes, 2010). This indicates how the country denies engagement in actions from other countries. Bravo requires a 200-mile exclusive functional area and does not allow other states to transit, saying that more ship passage risks the living resources through fish hitting by ships. This means that Bravo is mean and does not allow other countries to ferry armaments on the seas. Delta claims a 200-mile exclusive economic zone, and no nation is allowed to do fishing without being allowed to do so. Charlie did not have reasons for protesting, considering that different countries permitted and at the same time denied access to the territorial sea.
In conclusion, the boarding by Foxtrot marines was lawful because most countries allowed sharing of the territorial seas. Delta and Bravo have agreed with the use of blue straits to ferry humanitarian materials to the affected population and take soldiers to the aid of the afflicted society. Charlie protested because of the boarding and did not allow other countries to use the blue straits in the territorial sea.
References
Koh, T. (1985). A constitution for the oceans statement. In M. H. Nordquist (Ed.), United Nations convention on the law of the sea 1982: A commentary (pp. 11-16). Dordrecht: Martinus Nijhoff.
Oxman, B. (2006). The territorial temptation: A siren song at sea. The American Journal of International Law, 100(4), 830-851.
Posner, E., & Sykes, A. (2010). Economic foundations of the law of the sea. American Journal of International Law, 104(4), 569-596.