Warships are always prohibited from transiting another nation's territorial seas under which principle?

The principle that governs the transit of warships through another nation's territorial seas is the right of innocent passage. This legal concept, defined under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), allows for the passage of ships through the territorial waters of another nation as long as it is conducted in a peaceful manner and does not threaten the security or sovereignty of the coastal state.

The right of innocent passage means that warships can transit through territorial seas, provided their passage is not prejudicial to the peace, good order, or security of the coastal state. Activities such as military exercises or engaging in hostile actions would violate this principle. Therefore, the phrase "always prohibited" is misleading; rather, the passage is conditional upon the passage being deemed "innocent."

In contrast, the other answer choices do not directly address the rules surrounding warships in territorial seas. Freedom of navigation pertains to navigating on the high seas and does not extend the same way into a nation’s territorial waters. The exclusive economic zone (EEZ) relates to maritime rights for resource extraction and is distinct from territorial seas. International waters refer to areas not subject to any national jurisdiction, which again differs from the rules governing territorial seas. Thus, the correct answer highlights the