The waters and Exclusive Economic Zones(Eezs) of Pacific Island Countries have seen a surge of illegal
activities such as smuggling, illegal fishing, human trafficking, drug trafficking etc which impact on the economy and political security of the Pacific Island Countries.
On August 2, the Chinese Supreme People's Court signalled that China had the right to prosecute foreigners“illegally entering Chinese waters”- including areas claimed by China but which, in line with the tribunal's ruling,
are part of the surrounding states' Eezs- and jail them for up to a year.
It must be remembered always with the design of each of these systems that, in addition to being capable of meeting the technical design specifications, they also must meet the environmental rules established with respect to biodiversity, plume density and extent, and sedimentation rates, rules either of
the ISA in International Areas, or of the Coastal State within the Eezs.