• . . 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) 
First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
S.NO. 169 
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Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In 2007, this representation principally authored in the Senate a proposed measure entitled "An 
Act Defining the Archipelagic Baselines of the Philippine Archipelago, Amending for the 
Purpose Republic Act No. 3046, as Amended by Republic Act No. 5446" or SBN 1467_ It was 
eventually substituted by SBN 2699 and became Republic Act No. 9522 on 10 March 2009_ 
RA No. 9522 amended the provision of RA 3046, as amended by RA No. 5446, and effectively 
defined the archipelagic baselines of the Philippines thereby delineating the boundaries of the 
Philippine archipelago. It runs consistent with the provisions of Article 46 of the United Nations 
Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)_ 
The UNCLOS, which entered into force on November 14, 1994, recognizes that "an archipelagic 
state is a group of islands including parts of islands, interconnecting waters and other natural 
features which are closely interrelated that such islands, waters and other natural features form 
an intrinsic geographical, economic and political entity, or which historically have been regarded 
as such". Likewise, under the UNCLOS, an archipelagic state is allowed to draw straight 
baselines joining the outermost points of the outer islands and drying reefs. 
Though RA No. 9522 provided the delineation of the archipelagic baselines of the Philippines, it 
failed, on the other hand, to provide and establish the archipelagic sea lanes of the Philippines as 
espoused in Article 53 of the UNCLOS. This proposed measure, therefore, seeks to establish 
archipelagic sea lanes in the Philippines' archipelagic waters, prescribing the rights and 
obligation of foreign ships and aircraft exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage 
through the established archipelagic sea lanes and providing for the associated measures therein. 
In view of the foregoing reasons, the immediate passage of this 
11 is ur en Iy sought. 
"SONN " . TRILLANES IV 
Senator 
I 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.NO. 159 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. TrilIanes IV 
AN ACT 
TO ESTABLISH THE ARCHIPELAGIC SEA LANES IN THE PHILIPPINE 
ARCHIPELAGIC WATERS, PRESCRIBING THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF 
FOREIGN SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT EXERCISING THE RIGHT OF ARCHIPELAGIC 
SEA LANES PASSAGE THROUGH THE ESTABLISHED ARCHIPELAGIC SEA 
LANES AND PROVIDING FOR THE ASSOCIATED PROTECTIVE MEASURES 
THEREIN 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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CHAPTER I 
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GENERAL PROVISIONS 
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SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as "The Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lane;s 
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Act. " 
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CHAPTER II 
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RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF FOREIGN SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT WHEN 
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EXERCISING THE RIGHT OF ARCHIPELAGIC SEA LANES PASSAGE 
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SEC. 2. Foreign ships and aircraft may exercise the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage in 
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accordance with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 
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(UNCLOS) in order to sail or fly from one part of the high seas or an exclusive economic zone 
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through or over the Philippine territorial sea and its archipelagic waters. 
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SEC. 3. The exercise of the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage as described in Section 2 
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shall be through a sea lane, or through the air above a sea lane, which has been determined to be 
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an archipelagic sea lanes passage as described in Section 11. 
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SEC. 4. a) Forllign ships and aircraft Ilxercising thll right of archipelagic sea lanes passage 
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must pass through or above the archipelagic sea lane as quickly as possible in the normal mode 
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solely for the purpose of continuous, expeditious and unobstructed transit. 
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b) Foreign ships and aircraft that are conducting archipelagic sea lanes passage must not deviate 
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more than twenty five (25) nautical miles to either side of the axis line of the sea sea lane: 
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Provided, That such ships and aircraft must not navigate closer to the cO'ast than ten percent 
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(10%) of the distance between the nearest points on islands bordering the sea lane. 
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(c) Foreign ships and aircraft, while exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage, 
must refrain from any threat or use of force against the sovereignty, territorial integrity, or 
political independence of the Republic of the Philippines, or in any other manner in violation of 
the principles ofintemationallaw embodied in the Charter of the United Nations. 
(d) Foreign military aircraft and warships, while exercising the right of archipelagic sea 
lanes passage, must refrain from any war game exercises or exercises using any type of weapons 
whatsoever and using ammunition. 
(e) With the exception of a situation of force majeure or in the event of a disaster, aircraft 
exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage must refrain from landing in Philippine 
territory. 
(1) All foreign ships exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage must refrain 
from stopping, dropping anchor or loitering, with the exception of a situation of force majeure or 
in the event of a disaster or in order to render assistance to a person or persons or a ship or ships 
experiencing a disaster. 
(g) Foreign ships or aircraft exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage must 
refrain from making covert transmissions, interfering with telecommunications systems, and 
communicating directly with an unauthorized person or group of persons in Philippine territory. 
SEC. 5. Foreign ships or aircraft, including research or hydrographic survey ships or 
aircraft, while exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage, must refrain from 
conducting oceanographic research or hydrographic surveys, whether with the use of detection 
equipment or sample gathering equipment, unless they have obtained a permission to do so. 
SEC. 6. (a) Foreign ships, including fishing ships, while exercISIng the right of 
archipelagic sea lanes passage, must refrain from conducting fishing operations. 
(b) Foreign fishing ships, while exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage, 
besides fulfilling their obligations under paragraph (a), must stow all their fishing equipment 
within the hold. 
(c) Foreign ships and aircraft, while exercising the right ofarchipeiagic sea lanes passage, 
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must not load to a ship or unload from a ship persons, goods or currency in a maimer that 
contravenes the laws and regnlations concerning customs, immigration, fiscal matters and health, 
except when in a situation of force maj eure or in the event of a disaster. 
SEC. 7. (a) Foreign ships, while exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage, 
must comply with the generally accepted international regulations, procedures and practices 
concerning shipping safety, including regulations relating to the prevention of collisions at sea. 
(b) Foreign ships, while exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage in a sea 
lane where a traffic separation scheme has been established for the regulation of shipping safety, 
must comply with the provisions of the traffic separation scheme. 
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(c) Foreign ships, while exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage, must not 
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cause disturbance or damage to navigational facilities or submarine cables or pipes. 
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(d) Foreign ships, while exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage in a sea 
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lane where there are installations for the exploration or exploitation of living or non-living 
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natural resources, must not sail too close to the prohibited zone, which is determined to be of a 
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width of five hundred (500) meters around such an installation. 
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SEC. 8. (a) Foreign civil aircraft exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage 
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must: 
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(1) observe the Rules of the Air established by the International Civil Aviation 
Organization concerning flight safety; 
(2) at all times monitor the radio frequency assigned by the competent internationally 
designated air traffic control authority or the appropriate international distress radio 
frequency. 
(b) Foreign national aircraft exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage must: 
(1) respect the regulations concerning flight safety as detailed in paragraph (a); 
(2) fulfill their obligations as detailed in paragraph (a)(2). 
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SEC. 9. (a) Foreign ships exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage must 
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refrain from expelling oil, oily wastes or other noxious substances into the marine environment, 
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or conducting other activities in contravention of international regulations and standards for the 
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prevention, reduction and control of marine pollution that originates from ships. 
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(b) Foreign ships exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage must refrain from 
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dumping waste in Philippine waters. 
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SEC. 10. (a) The person or legal body responsible for the operation or cargo of foreign 
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commercial ships or aircraft or foreign government ships or aircraft operated for commercial 
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purposes must be liable for any loss or damage suffered by the Philippines as a result of non-
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compliance with any of the provisions of Sections 7, 8 and 9 while exercising the right of 
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archipelagic sea lanes passage in Philippine waters. 
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b) The flag State shall bear international responsibility for any loss or damage suffered by 
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the Philippines as a result of non-compliance with any of the provisions of Sections 7,8 and 9 by 
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a foreign warship or aircraft while exercising the right of archipelagic sea lanes passage. 
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CHAPTER III 
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THE DETERMINATION OF ARCHIPELAGIC SEA LANES WHICH MAY BE USED 
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FOR THE RIGHT OF ARCHIPELAGIC SEA LANES PASSAGE 
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SEC. 11. a) The archipelagic sea lane that may be used for exercising the right of 
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archipelagic sea lanes passage for sailing from the Philippines Sea to the South China Sea or vice 
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versa through the Balintang Channel, is Archipelagic Sea Lane I, the axis of which is the line 
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that joins connecting points I-I through to 1-2 as detailed in the Coordinates Tables as defined in 
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Section 12, paragraph (b). 
lOb) The archipelagic sea lane that may be used for exercising the right of archipelagic sea 
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lanes passage for sailing from the Philippine Sea to the South China Sea or vice versa through 
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the Surigao Strait, Bohol Sea, Sulu Sea, Nasubata Channel and Balabac Strait, is Archipelagic 
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Sea Lane II, the axis of which is the line that joins connecting points II-I through to II-6 as 
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detailed in the Coordinates Tables as defined in Section 12, paragraph (b). 
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c) The archipelagic sea lane that may be used for exercising the right of archipelagic sea 
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lanes passage for sailing from the Celebes Sea to the South China Sea or vice versa through the 
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Basilan Strait, Eastern Sulu Sea and Mindoro Strait, is Archipelagic Sea Lane III, the axis of 
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which is the line that joins connecting points III-I through III-8 as detailed in the Coordinates 
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Tables as defined in Section 12, paragraph (b). 
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SEC. 12. a) The archipelagic sea lane axes and connecting points mentioned in Section 
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11 shall be marked on navigation charts for appropriate publication. 
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b) The geographic coordinates for the archipelagic sea lane connecting points mentioned 
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in Section 11 are as detailed in the Coordinates Tables in Annexes I, II and III. 
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c) If, as a result of a natural change, such outermost connecting points are not in the 
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geographic position as detailed in the Geographic Coordinates Tables as defined in Section 12(b) 
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then the geographic position of such outermost connecting points is determined according to the 
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actual situation in the field. 
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d) The illustrative chart displaying the axes and connecting points as detailed in Section 
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II as Annex IV. 
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SEC. 13. All rules and regulations relating to the Associated Protective Measures 
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(APMs) to be prescribed in accordance with International Maritime Organization (IMO) 
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Conventions and Regulations within areas along the archipelagic sea lanes shall be promulgated 
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separately through an Executive Issuance. 
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CHAPTER IV 
OTHER PROVISIONS 
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SEC. 14, The provisions of this Act do not reduce the rights of foreign ships to exercise 
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the right of innocent passage in archipelagic sea lanes, 
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SEC. 15. All laws inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are deemed 
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amended, modified or repealed accordingly. 
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SEC. 16. If any portion or provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, 
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the other portions of provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full 
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force and effect. 
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SEC. 17. This Act shall take effect fifteen days following its publication in the Oflicial 
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Gazette or in any two newspapers of general circulation 
Approved, 
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ANNEX I 
Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act 
TABLE OF GEOGUAPllC COORDINATES CONNECTING l'Oll'lTS FOR TIlE AXIS 
OF ARCHIPELAGIC SEA LANE I: l'IULIPI'lNE SEA - DALINTANG CRAl'H'mL--
SOUTH CmNA SEA 
(Reference Churtls: Publisher, Churt number, dute and scale, points reflected on chart) 
Rtlference Chart: NAMlUA Churt No. 4705, 3td J);dition, Murch 2009, Scale 1:800,000, 
WGS-84 DatulIl 
DescriptiO!l of the archipelagic sen lane 
- The axis line connects Ille following geographic positions in WGS·84 Datum: 
(11) 
20°15'30" N; 122°19'30" E 
(1-2) 
19°18'00" N; 121 °02'06" 1:1 
Notes for tile use of this archipelagic sea lane 
(a) Geographic positions (1·1) to (1-2) define the Hxis line from the Philippine Sea to South 
. China Sea through the Balintang ChanneL 
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ANNEXII ' 
Philippine Archipelagic S~ Lanes Act 
TABLJj~ OF GEOGRAl'IDC COOlIDINATES CONNECTING POINTS FORTmr AXIS 
OIt' ARCHIPELAGIC SEA I,ANIE II: }'HIUPPINE SEA - SVIUGAO STl~A1T -, nOU01, 
SEA - SULU SEA - NASUDATA CIL\NNEL -llALAUAC STUAlT - SOUTH ClllNA 
SEA 
(Reference Cha11/s: Publisher, Chart number, date and scale, points retlected on chart) 
Reference Charts: NAMRlA Cbart No. 4707, 1" Edition, Dec 28/60, Coneated to 
NM (9) 2002, Scale 1:800,000, Luzon Datum 
NAMIUA Chart No. 4708, 1" Edition, Mar 1956, Corrected (0 
NM (7) 2002, Senle 1:809,000, LUllon DatulU 
l>escriptioll of the nrchipeJagic sea lane 
The axis line connects the following geographic position,s in WGS-84 Datum: 
(II-I) 10°32'26" N; 126°13'11" E 
(II-2) 10°32'26" N; 125°22'35" E 
(11-3) 09°51 '25" N; 125°21 '35" E 
(II-4) 08°56'43" N; 123°46'35" E 
(II-5) 07°56'56" N; 117°11 '51" Ii 
(II-6) 07°31'56" N; 117°00'06" B 
Notes for the use of tlus archipelagic sea 1alle 
(8) Geographic positions (II-I) to (11-3) define the llxis line froml'hiJippine Soa to the 
Surigao Strait. 
{b) Geographic positions (U-3) to (I1-5) define the axis line from Surigao Strait tiU'ough the 
Boho! Sea and Sulu Sea into the Nasubata Chrulllel 
(0) Geographic positions (II.5) [0 (II-G) define the axis line from Nasubatil Channel through 
Balnbac Strait to the South Chinn Sea 
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ANNExm 
]'hilillPinc Archipelagic Sell Lanes Act 
TABLE OF GEOGHAl'mC COOJ1DlNATRS CONNECTING l'OINTS I,'on THE AXIS 
011 ARCHlPICLAGlC SEA LANE Ill: CELE.illtS SEA - llASILAN STRAfr - SUUJ SI~A 
- MlNDOnO STRAIT - SOUTII CIIINA SEA 
(Reference Chortis: Publisher, Chart number, date Qlld scale, points refh,cted on chart.) 
Reference Charts: NAMlUA Chart No. 4706, Rl)viscd 06-22-87, COl'rected to 
NM(1:l)200?', Scale 1:800,000, WGS·84 Datum 
NAMlUA Chal't No. 4706, 1'( Edition, Mill' 195B, Corrected to 
NM(7)2002, SClIle 1:809,000, Luzon Datulll 
Descriptioll of tbe archipelagic sea lane 
The axis line cOllnects the following geographic positions ill WGS·84 Datum: 
. (III~l) 06°0G'55"N;123°01'04" E 
(ID-2) 06°41 '55" N; 122°20'34" E 
(III-3) 06°,17'55" N; 122°17'34" E 
(III-4) 06°41'55" N; 122°05'04" II 
(m-S) 06°S0'55"N; 121°54'34" E 
(III-6) 06°56'55"N; 121°47'25"E 
(III-7) 10021'OO''N; 121°47'21" E 
(ill-B) 14°07'00" N; 119"47' 18" E 
Notes for the US" of this archipelagic sea lane 
(a) Geographic positions (Ill· I) (0 (IlI·2) define the axis line from Celebes Sea to the 13nsilall 
Strait 
(0) Geographic positions (IIT-2) to (III-6) defme the axis linc through the l3asilan Strait into 
the 8ulu Soa 
(c) Geographic positions (III-G) to (Ill-7) define the axis line through East 8\1111 Sea 
(d) Goographic positions (III-'1) to (lIl-S) dothlC the mus line through Mindoro Strait (0 the 
South ChitHt Soa 
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