Meaning
领海 refers to the belt of coastal waters extending at most 12 nautical miles from the baseline of a coastal state. This area is considered sovereign territory of the state, subject to international maritime law. It is a formal, legal term used in international relations, maritime law, and news reporting.
Usage
This is a specialized legal and political term most commonly encountered in news reports about maritime disputes, naval operations, or international law discussions. Native speakers use it in formal contexts when discussing sovereignty, territorial rights, or maritime boundaries. It often appears with verbs like 侵犯 (to violate) or 进入 (to enter).
Examples
- 01外国军舰未经允许不得进入我国领海。.Foreign warships may not enter our territorial waters without permission.
- 02两国就领海划分问题进行了多轮谈判。.The two countries conducted multiple rounds of negotiations on the issue of territorial waters demarcation.
Characters
Common collocations
- 侵犯领海to violate territorial waters
- 进入领海to enter territorial waters
- 领海权territorial sea rights
- 领海范围territorial waters range
Antonyms
Origin
领 originally means 'collar' or 'neck' but extends to mean 'territory' or 'domain' (what falls under one's jurisdiction). Combined with 海 (sea), it literally means 'territorial sea' or 'jurisdictional waters'.