Reefs are not sovereign coastline
Q. Which of the following statements is/are correct according to UNCLOS?
1. The contiguous zone is a band of water extending from the outer edge of the territorial sea to up to 24 nautical miles.
2. A 12 nautical-mile territorial limit is allowed for Artificial island as well.- Published on 17 Dec 15a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both
d. None of the above
ANSWER: Only 1
- United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) states that sub-sea structures, such as reefs, cannot be claimed as sovereign coastline.
- Building artificial structures on top of reefs does not turn them in to sovereign territory either.
- A country that owns a natural island can claim a 12-nautical-mile territorial limit around it, both on the sea and in the air. But artificial structures do not confer any such right.
