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Comment by ageofwant | Hacker News Reader

Ships do not "loiter" in international waters. "Loiter" implies the loiterer is violating some rights the accuser imagines himself to have. Russia may be simply legally installing its surveillance equipment on cables it found in international waters. There's no 'loitering' involved here.

I invite you to study the speeches of Anson Chan, less you believe that this irritating political weasel-wording we are so used to currently is universal.

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"Loiter" is especially used in military and strategic contexts to mean simply holding position. No implication of violation or anything. Aircraft loiter over a waypoint, etc.

> Russia may be simply legally installing its surveillance equipment on cables it found in international waters.

I'm fairly certain active communications cables don't fall under marine salvage.

edit: http://cil.nus.edu.sg/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Beckman-... states "Articles 113-115 of UNCLOS provide for the protection of submarine cables beneath the high seas. These articles are also applicable in the EEZ because of article 58(2)." Russia has signed and ratified https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Convention_on_t....

> Loiter" implies the loiterer is violating some rights the accuser imagines himself to have

That's not what my dictionary says.

To stand about without any aim or purpose; to stand about idly; to linger; to hang around.

Used appropriately by source.

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