high seas

Tropical storm Koto killed three people and left another missing as it approached Vietnam, authorities said Sunday, as strong winds and high seas buffeted vessels off the country's flood-hit central coast.

The U.S. says the passage is an international strait, based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, because it connects two parts of the high seas.

"Commercial vessels are entitled to largely unimpeded rights of navigation and commerce on the high seas," it added.

“Commercial vessels are entitled to largely unimpeded rights of navigation and commerce on the high seas,” Centcom said.

"Commercial vessels are entitled to largely unimpeded rights of navigation and commerce on the high seas," said the US 5th Fleet, which patrols the region.