Territorial dispute
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A territorial dispute is a disagreement over the possession/control of land between two or more states, or over the possession or control of land by one state after it has conquered it from a former state no longer currently recognized by the occupying power.
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[edit] Context and definitions
These disputes are often related to the possession of natural resources such as rivers, fertile farmland, mineral or oil resources, although the disputes can also be driven by culture, religion and ethnic nationalism. In many cases territorial disputes result from vague and unclear language in a treaty that set up the original boundary.
Territorial disputes are a major cause of wars and terrorism, as states often try to assert their real, or imagined, sovereignty over a territory through invasion, and non-state entities try to influence the actions of politicians through terrorism. International law does not support the use force by one state to annex the territory of another state. The UN Charter says: "All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations."
In some cases such as the Aksai Chin, the Taiwan straits, and Kashmir, both sides will define a line of control that serves as a de-facto international border. Although these lines are often clearly demarcated, they do not have the legitimacy of an agreed international boundary.
- The term border dispute applies only to the many cases where a limit territory bordering more than one state (including an enclave in one state, e.g. Nagorno Karabach) is claimed by two or more, not the very existence of a whole state challenged (e.g. the Republic of China, which the People's Republic of China regards as a defunct and illegitimate entity, with its current jurisdiction of Taiwan claimed by the PRC as its 23rd province).
- The term occupied territories (see that article) in general refers to regions distinct from the recognized territory of a sovereign state but which it controls, especially with military forces. Even though a long-term occupation is general maintained as a means to act upon a territorial claim, this is not a prerequisite, as occupation may also be strategic (such as creating a buffer zone or a preventive move to prevent a rival power obtaining control) or a means of coercion (as a punishment, to impose some internal measures or for use as a bargaining chip).
- Since the latter part of the 20th century, the unqualified term "occupied territories" has come in many contexts to refer specifically to the West Bank and Gaza strip, whose status is hotly disputed (see Palestinian territories).
- The term irredentism (see that article) applies to those border disputes and other territorial claims that one party justifies on the basis of former cultural or ethnic attachment.
[edit] Current territorial disputes
See List of territorial disputes and List of active autonomist and secessionist movements.
[edit] See also
- Fait accompli
- Status quo ante bellum
- Ethnic cleansing
- Lebensraum
- Irredentism
- Rio Grande border disputes
[edit] Sources and references
- WorldStatesman - click on any state for the listing (after the chronological lists of statesmen) of Territorial Disputes it is party to
- Territorial disputes in CIA World Factbook
- Occupied or disputed territories? in Middle-East-Info.org - Concise information about all regimes and terrorism in the Middle East
- USState Department/ FloridaStateUniversity International Border Studies
