Moreover, according to the Convention on the Law of the Sea, countries’ enjoy absolute sovereignty in the first 12 nautical miles (about 20 kilometers) of their coastal waters sea, and almost absolute sovereignty, limited by a few conventions, within 200 nautical miles (360 kilometers) of their coasts. Any country that can prove that the seabed beyond 200 nautical miles is an extension of the continental shelf on which it is sovereign can claim sovereignty over it as well.
此外，根据海洋法公约，所有国家享有其沿海水域12海里（约20公里）的绝对主权，而200海里内（ 360公里）的海岸，除了受一些公约的限制，所有国家享有几乎绝对的主权。任何国家，只要能证明200海里以外的海底是其主权大陆架的延伸，则可以声称享有其主权。