Asian archipelago (5)
I believe the answer is:
japan
'asian archipelago' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for japan that I've seen before include "Far Eastern island country" , "Twelve [VARNISH]" , "black gloss" , "'Country of more than 3,000 islands (5)'" , "Glossy coating" .)