text: different peacetime tasksinthepublicservice whenthesituation demands, the majority ofwhichtasksareoftenabovethelevelofnational interest andareto thebenefit oftheinternational community atlarge. CHAPTER V MARITIME LEGALCONTEXT 171.Sofar,thestudyhaspresented anoverview ofthemarit,ime environment, its useSandresources, andthegeneral nature anddisposition ofnavalforcesand navalarmssystems, including maritime nuclear weapons. Beforeaddressing the security andotherimplications ofthesefactors, itisnecessary toconsider in broadtermsthemaritime legalcontext. InpartiCUlar, theimportance andscopeof theConvention ontheLawoftheSeashould benoted. Although ithasnotyet entered intoforce,itissignificant thatsincetheopening oftheConvention for signature animportant additional numberofStates havebecomesignatories (see para.182below). Inaddition, several States haveincorporated, orareinthe process ofincorporating, intotheirnational legislation rulessimilar tothoseof theConvention, especially withregardtosuchaspects asterritorial seasandthe exclusive economic zone.SomeStatesarealsoengaged inmodifying their legislation toreflect relevant provisions contained intheConvention. In consequence, theConvention ontheLawoftheSeaprovides inthepresent circumstances asolidbasisforfurther development oftheexisting rulesof customary law. 172.Thefollowing paragraphs present onlyabriefdiscussion ofcomplex legal subjects. Theobservations contained therein arenotintended toprejudice any existing lawsandagreedprinciples, nortotrespass onmatters thatmaybe currently undernegotiation inanyinternational forum. A.General rulesofinternational lawrestricting theuseofforce, rightofself-defence andcollective self-defence atsea 173.Theuseofforceingeneral international lawisgoverned bytheprovisions of theCharter oftheUnitedNations, inparticular byArticle 2,paragraph 4,and Article 51,whichreadasfollows: I...A/40/535 English Page51 Article 2,paragraph 4, "AllMembers shallrefrain intheirinternational relations fromthe threatoruseofforceagainst theterritorial integrity orpolitical independence ofanyState,orinanyothermannerinconsistent withthe Purposes oftheUnitedNations." Article 51 "Nothing inthepresent Charter shallimpairtheinherent rightof individual orcollective self-defence ifanarmedattackoccursagainst a MemberoftheunitedNations, untiltheSecurity Council hastakenmeasures necessary tomaintain international peaceandsecurity. Measures takenby Members intheexercise oftherightofself-defence shallbeimmediately reported totheSecurity Council andshallnotinanywayaffecttheauthority andresponsibility oftheSecurity Council underthepresent Charter totake atanytimesuchactionasitdeemsnecessary inordertomaintain orrestore international peaceandsecurity." 174.Adistinction should bemadeinmaritime matters between the self-defence andthelawful useofforcetoenforce jurisdiction. assumed particular importance inthenewlawofthesea.useofforcein Thelatterhas 175.Oneofthesignificant features ofthenewlawoftheseaisthatcoastal States havebeenextending theirsovereignty andjurisdiction overadjacent maritime areas. The1958GenevaConventions hadalready givencoastal States sovereign rightsoverthenatural resOUrces oftheircontinental shelves andhad codified therightofhotpurSUit andtherightofwarships toboardshipsonthe highseasincertain circumstances. The1982Convention ontheLawoftheSea continued thisprocess, forinstance bygranting coastal Statessovereign rights overalltheresources intheirexclusive economic zonesandgiVingarchipelagic Statessovereignty overtheirarchipelagic waters. TheQuestion ofthedegreeto whichforcemaybeusedtoenforce theserecognized rightsofsovereignty and jurisdiction istherefore ofsomeimportance. 176.TheCharter inArticle 51recognizes thatStates havetheinherent rightof individual orcollective self-defence. Italsorecognizes thatMembers ofthe UnitedNations mayexercise collectively Whatistheirindividual right. Tothis endStates haveentered intocollective security arrangements invarious partsof theworld, amongthemthefollowing: IntheAmericas
analysis: The text appears to be discussing maritime law and its implications on the use of force, self-defense, and jurisdiction in international waters. It also mentions the Convention on the Law of the Sea and its significance in regulating the use of force and the exercise of sovereignty and jurisdiction over maritime areas. Given the focus on international law, maritime issues, and the role of coastal states, I hypothesize that the text is most closely related to the category of Transport and Communication, as it deals with the regulation of the use of the seas and the exercise of jurisdiction over maritime areas.