List of territorial disputes

The terms country, state, and nation can have various meanings. Therefore, diverse lists of these entities are possible. Wikipedia offers the following lists:

the list of countries, listing countries in the sense of independent states (both those that are internationally recognized and generally unrecognized), inhabited dependent territories, and areas of special sovereignty.
the list of sovereign states, listing sovereign states with information on the extent of their sovereignty. It includes both states widely recognized (de jure) to be sovereign and entities that claim sovereignty while exercising de facto control over (part of) their claimed territory.

Related lists are the lists of federations, unrecognized countries, autonomous areas, dependent territories, and territorial disputes. In some contexts country and state is also used for some subnational entities.[1] More lists of countries can be found at the lists of countries.

This is a list of extant territorial disputes around the world. Bold indicates one claimant's full control; italics, one or more claimants' partial control.

1 Disputes involving states that recognize each other
2 Disputes between a state and its subnational entities, or between subnational entities
3 Disputes involving parties that each have some territory under control but do not recognize each other
4 Formally frozen dispute
- 4.1 Antarctica
- 4.2 Outer Mongolia
5 Disputes between a state and a secessionist group with no territorial control
6 References
7 See also

Disputes involving states that recognize each other

In Africa and neighbouring seas

Territory Claimants Notes Bassas da India, Europa Islandand Juan de Nova France
Madagascar [2]Badme Ethiopia
Eritrea [2]Bakassi Cameroon
NigeriaThis area was handed over by Nigeriato Cameroonfollowing an ICJruling, but the Senate of Nigeriahas decreed that in their opinion the handover of territory was illegal. Banc du Geyser Madagascar
France
The Comoros Béchar Algeria
Morocco(former) Bogomerom archipelago (parts) Chad
Nigeria Bure Ethiopia
Eritrea [3]Caprivi Stripboundary tripoints/quadripoint Botswana
Namibia
Zambia
Zimbabwe Ceuta [4]Spain
Morocco Chagos Archipelago United Kingdom
Mauritius
The SeychellesUnited Kingdom claims as part of British Indian Ocean TerritoryChirac pastures Morocco
Algeria [5]part of GicumbiDistrict, North Province Rwanda
Uganda Glorioso Islands France
Madagascar
The Seychelles
The Comoros Hala'ib Triangle Egypt
Sudan [6]Isla de Alborán Spain
Morocco Isla Perejil Spain
Morocco Islas Chafarinas Spain
Morocco Ilemi Triangle Kenya
Ethiopia
Sudanpart of Kabale District Uganda
RwandaKangawane Swazihomelands in parts of Mpumalangaand KwaZulu Natal South Africa
Swaziland Kariba Power Stationand Sindabezi Island Zambia
Zimbabwe Kasikili/Sedudu Botswana
Namibia [7]Part of the Katemba region Angola
Democratic Republic of the CongoKoualou village Burkina Faso
Benin Lete Island, Tondi Kwara Barou and neighbouring islands Benin
NigerAdjudicated by the ICJin 2005in favour of Niger. Area near Logoba/Moyo District Sudan
UgandaLunchinda-Pweto province Zambia
Democratic Republic of the Congo Mayotte France
Comoros [2]Mbañie Island, Cocotiers, and Congas Island Gabon
Equatorial Guinea [8]islands in Mbamba Bay, Lake Nyasa Tanzania
Malawi Melilla [9]Spain
MoroccoMigingo Island Uganda
Kenya
Tanzaniaseveral islands in the River Ntem Cameroon
Equatorial GuineaNorth West Niger (about 25,000 square km) Niger
Libya Ogaden Ethiopia
Somaliaseveral villages near the Okpara River Benin
Niger Peñón de Alhucemas Spain
Morocco Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera Spain
Morocco Raheita Djibouti
Eritrea Rukwanzi Island Democratic Republic of the Congo
Ugandathe Rufunzo Valley and Sabererwa Rwanda
Burundi Exclusive Economic Zonesurrounding the Savage Islands Portugal
SpainStrip of land in Semlikiriver Democratic Republic of the Congo
UgandaSouth East Algeria Algeria
Libya Socotra Yemen

Somalia

Tindouf Algeria
MoroccoTriangular area of land south east of Toummo Niger
Libya Tromelin France
Mauritius
The Seychelles Tsorona-Zalambessa Ethiopia
Eritrea [10]Wadi HaifaSalient Egypt
SudanYenga (border hamlet), and left bank of the Makona and Moarivers Sierra Leone
Guinea

In the Americas

Territory Claimants Notes Ankoko Island/Isla de Anacoco Venezuela
GuyanaArroyo de la Invernada or Rincón de Artigas Brazil
Uruguay Atacama corridor Chile
BoliviaSouthern half of Belize Belize
GuatemalaGuatemala formerly claiming all Belize. Bajo Nuevo Bank(Petrel Islands) Colombia
United States
Jamaica
HondurasHonduras does not actively pursue its claim. Isla Aves(Bird Island) Venezuela
Dominica Santa Barbara Islands [11][12][13][14]United States
MexicoMexico's claim is considered dormant. Conejo Island Honduras
El Salvador Falkland Islands(Islas Malvinas)[2]United Kingdom
Argentina French Guianawest of the Marouini River France
Suriname Guantánamo Bay [2]United States
CubaThe United States is the territory's lease-holder, but Cuba retains de jure sovereignty. Guaira Falls/Sete Quedas Brazil
Paraguay Guyanaeast of the Upper Courantyne River Guyana
Suriname Guyanawest of the Essequibo River(Guayana Esequiba) Guyana
Venezuela Hans Island Canada
DenmarkDenmark claims the island as part of Greenland. Isla Brasilera/Ilha Brasileira Brazil
Uruguay
ArgentinaArgentina only claims the surrounding waters. Isla Suárez/Ilha de Guajará-mirim Bolivia
BrazilLos Monjes archipelago[2]Venezuela
ColombiaArea near Mejito De La Cruz Costa Rica
Nicaragua Navassa Island [2]United States
HaitiDormant claims:
Cuba
Colombia
Jamaica
Mexico
Honduras Quita Sueño Bank Colombia
Nicaragua Pacific Ocean Sea border Chile
PeruThis arguably covers 19,000-35,000 square metres of land near border marker number one. Land around the Rio San Juan(approximately 300 square kilometres) Costa Rica
Nicaragua San Andrés and Providencia Colombia
Nicaragua Hondurasde facto recognizes Colombian claim. Sapodilla Cays Belize
Guatemala
HondurasGuatemala formerly claiming all Belize. Sea Otter Rocks, Sea Lion Rockand Copper Island (Medny Island) Russia
United StatesSovereignty undetermined; agreement to cede these areas to Russia has not been ratified by the Duma. Serranilla Bank Colombia
United States
Nicaragua
Honduras South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands [2]United Kingdom
ArgentinaIncluding Shag Rocks. Southern Patagonian Ice Fieldbetween Mount Fitzroyand Cerro Daudet Argentina
ChileParts of the border still officially undefined.

Territory disputed between Canada and the United States

Main article:List of areas disputed by Canada and the United States

Territory Canadian Claimant American Claimant Machias Seal Island New Brunswick Maine North Rock New Brunswick Maine Strait of Juan de Fuca British Columbia Washington Dixon Entrance British Columbia Alaska Portland Canal British Columbia Alaska Beaufort Sea Yukon Alaska Northwest Passageand some other Arctic waters Canadian territorial waters Claimed by U.S. to be international waters

In Asia and the Pacific

v • d • e Territorial disputesin East, South, and Southeast AsiaType Territory Currently Administered by Claimants Land: Aksai Chin 2 Arunachal Pradesh 2 Baekdu Mountain 2 2 East Turkestan 1 2 Heixiazi / Bolshoy Ussuriyskiy (Eastern part)2 Indo-Bangladesh enclaves3 Kashmir3 2 Kachin State 1 2 Kayin State 1 Korean Peninsulaand its adjacent islands3 Mainland China2 Mongolia2 Pamir Mountains (Northern and central parts)2 Wakhan Corridor2 Pattani 1 Sabah2 Shan State 1 Sixty-Four Villages East of the Heilongjiang River2 Tannu Uriankhai(now Tuva Republicof Russia)2 Tibet 1 2 Trans-Karakoram Tract 2 Wa State 1 Islands and Waters: Kinmen Liancourt Rocks 2 Macclesfield Bank Matsu Paracel Islands Pedra Branca, Middle Rocksand South Ledge Pratas Islands Scarborough Shoal Senkaku Islands Sir Creek3 Socotra Rock 2 2 Southern Kuril Islands Spratly Islands3 Taiwanand Pescadores2 Notes: 1Government in exile/exiled group.
2Inactive dispute.
3Divided among multiple claimants.

In Europe

Territory Claimants Notes Part of Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area United Kingdom
Cyprus Barents Seaboundary dispute Russia
Norway Baltic Seaboundary dispute near Bornholm Poland
Denmark David Gareja monastery complexboundary dispute Georgia
AzerbaijanSome areas by the Danube
Parts of Osijekand Sombordistricts Croatia
Serbia Eastern coast of Narva riverand Pechory region Russia
EstoniaPart of Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area United Kingdom
Cyprus Eastern Anatolia Turkey
Armenia Emsestuary and DollartBay (western part) Netherlands
GermanySettled in 1960s (agreeing to disagree) Gibraltar United Kingdom
Spain [2]UK claims territory as an overseas territory, Gibraltar wishes to remain a UK territory Gulf of Piran Slovenia
CroatiaIncluding the hamlets of Bozini, Mlini, Škodelin and Škrile and much of the border area Isthmus between Gibraltar and Spain United Kingdom
SpainUK claims territory as part of Gibraltar. Imia/Kardak Greece
Turkey Kosa Tuzla Island Ukraine
RussiaThe areas of Debellde, Vitiand the Sharr Triangle Serbia
the Republic of Macedonia
Kosovo Lake Constance Austria
Germany
Switzerland Mont Blanc France
ItalyAn area near Montalmus peak Andorra
Spain[citation needed] Olivenza(including the municipalityof Taliga) Spain
PortugalPichvni Georgia
Russia Prevlaka Croatia
MontenegroMaritime border in the Adriatic Croatia
Montenegro Rockall United Kingdom
Ireland
Denmark
IcelandIreland, Denmark and Iceland do not claim ownership of the islet; rather, they argue that it is not large enough to entitle the UK to the continental shelfrights of the surrounding ocean floor. Sastavci Serbia
Bosnia and Herzegovina Šarengradska Ada Serbia
Croatia Sarych Ukraine
Russia Snake Island Ukraine
RomaniaMilitary complex near Sveta Gera, in the area of Žumberak/Gorjanci Slovenia
Croatia400 hectares in and around the vicinity of Tesin the Czech Republic
PolandSmall 3m-by-60m strip along the Passetto di Borgoin the vicinity of the Vatican City the Holy See
ItalyVeliki and Mali Škoj (near Neum) Croatia
Bosnia and Herzegovina Island of Vukovar Croatia
Serbia

Territorial disputes in Europe (red: Disputes involving states that recognize each other, pink: Disputes involving parties that each have some territory under control but do not recognize each other)

Disputes between a state and its subnational entities, or between subnational entities

Belgaum: Karnataka and Maharashtra (in India)
Ceara and Piaui in Brazil
Lubicon traditional territory between the Peace River and Athabasca River and north of Lesser Slave Lake: The Lubicon Cree Nation and the Government of Canada (in Canada).
Southern edge of Labrador: Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador (in Canada).
Large area of Yucatán Peninsula: Mexican states of Campeche and Quintana Roo (in Mexico).
North Kosovo: theoretically under interim UN administration, but de facto governed as continued part of Serbia.
A one-mile wide section along the 35th Parallel: Georgia and Tennessee [19][20] (in the United States).

Disputes involving parties that each have some territory under control but do not recognize each other

Territory Claimants Notes Israel Proper Israel
Hamas Hamascurrently has de facto control of the Gaza Strip. All Palestinian parties and factions claimed Israel Properuntil the Oslo Accord. Abkhazia Republic of Abkhazia
GeorgiaEastern part of Bhutan Bhutan
Republic of China [15]North Cyprus Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
Republic of Cyprus Mainland China(including Tibetand Xinjiang) People's Republic of China
Republic of China [15]Moldovan-controlled area of Dubasaridistrict Moldova
Pridnestrovian Moldavian RepublicA small area of Gilgit-Baltistan Pakistan
Republic of China [15][21]Erenkoy/Kokkina Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
Republic of CyprusThis area is separated from the rest of the land held by North Cyprus by land controlled by the Republic of Cyprus. Heixiazi/ Bolshoy Ussuriyskiy
(eastern half) Russia
Republic of China [15][21]Split by the People's Republic of China and Russia in 2004 Heixiazi/ Bolshoy Ussuriyskiy
(western half) People's Republic of China
Republic of China [15][21]Split by the People's Republic of China and Russia in 2004 Kachin State Burma
Republic of China [15][21]North part west of Gaoligong Mountain (高黎貢山) in western Yunnan, China, and the Division of Sagaing: Jiangxinpo (江心坡) and Nankan (南坎). 106.40 square kilometres of formerly Chinese territory in Kazakhstan Kazakhstan
Republic of China Kosovo Serbia
Kosovo Kutsuzovisland Russia
Republic of China Lachin corridor Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
Azerbaijan Outer Mongolia Mongolia
Republic of China [15]See also the section Outer Mongoliabelow for further information Pamir Mountains(west of Xinjiang)[15][21]
(Northern and central parts) Tajikstan
Republic of China Pamir Mountains(west of Xinjiang)[15][21]
(Southern part) Afghanistan
Republic of China Judea and Samaria/West Bank Israel
Palestinian AuthoritySee Israeli-Palestinian conflict Puntland Puntland
SomaliaPart of the Rasŏn administrative division Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Republic of China [15]HM Roughs Tower United Kingdom
Sealand Sanaag Somaliland
Maakhir
Somalia
Puntland Sikkim India
The Republic of ChinaThe PRC renounced its claim in 2003. Sixty-Four Villages East of the Heilongjiang River Russia
Republic of China [21]Somaliland Somaliland
Somalia Sool Somaliland
Puntland
Somalia South Ossetia Republic of South Ossetia
GeorgiaNorthern and eastern Sri Lanka Sri Lanka
Tamil Eelam'Border' checkpoint near Strovilia United Kingdom
Turkish Republic of Northern CyprusUK's claim in regard to its Sovereign Base Areas
Technically, of course, this also involves Cyprus; the checkpoint is partially on UN-administered land, and Cyprusclaims all of the island. (See: Europe) Taiwan
the Pescadores
Quemoy
Matsu Islands
Pratas Islands Republic of China [22]
People's Republic of China [23]See also:
Anti-Secession Law of the People's Republic of China
Legal status of Taiwan Tannu Uriankhai Mongolia
Russia
Republic of China [15]Transnistria Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic
Moldova Varnita, Copanca and Bendery(also known as Tighina or Bender) Moldova
Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic Western Sahara Morocco
The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
Mauritania(Dormant claim) The United Nationsconsiders the sovereignty issue as unresolved pending a final solution, and to that end, has a mission in the territoryto oversee a referendum on self-determination. Sovereignty was relinquished by Spainin 1976.

Formally frozen dispute

Antarctica

The Antarctic Treaty System, formed on 1 December 1959 and entered into force on 23 June 1961, establishes the legal framework for the management of Antarctica and provides administration for the continent, which is carried out through consultative member meetings. It freezes the territorial claims of all signatories (all claimants have acceded) for as long as the treaty is in force. However, it is not a final settlement; parties can choose to withdraw from the System at any time. Furthermore, only a minority of states have signed it, and it is not formally sanctioned by the United Nations. Thus, Antarctica remains the only part of the planet any (non-signatory) state can still lay claim to as terra nullius (on the grounds of it not having been part of any existing state's legal and effective territory).

Outer Mongolia

When the Constitution of the Republic of China was adopted on 25 December 1947, the Republic of China did recognize the statehood of the Mongolian People's Republic with Soviet pressure. After the UN General Assembly Resolution 505 was passed in 1952, the Republic of China withdrew such a recognition in 1953 and therefore claimed Greater Mongolia including Outer Mongolia.

On 26 November 1993, the Judicial Yuan of the Republic of China in its Interpretation 328 called the constitutional territory beyond the reach of judicial review and thus avoided the question as whether Mongolia should be considered the constitutional territory of the Republic of China.[24]

The Republic of China has once again recognized the statehood of Mongolia in 2002 (but still claiming Tannu Uriankhai administered by Russia), thus freezing the territorial claim. However, the Constitution of the Republic of China does mention Mongolia in four articles:

Article 26

The National Assembly shall be composed of the following delegates:

One delegate shall be elected from each hsien, municipality, ......;
Delegates to represent Mongolia shall be elected on the basis of four for each league and one for each Special banner;
......

Article 64

Members of the Legislative Yuan shall be elected in accordance with the following provisions:

Those to be elected from the provinces ......;
Those to be elected from Mongolian Leagues and Banners;
......

Article 91

The Control Yuan shall be composed of Members who shall be elected by Provincial and Municipal Councils, the local Councils of Mongolia and Tibet, and Chinese citizens residing abroad. Their numbers shall be determined in accordance with the following provisions:

Five Members for each Province;
Two Members for each municipality under the direct jurisdiction of the Executive Yuan;
Eight Members for the Mongolian Leagues and Banners;
......

Article 119

The local self-government of Mongolian Leagues and Banners shall be prescribed by law.

The Additional Articles of the Constitution of the Republic of China has superseded these articles except Article 119.

Despite these, the Yearbook of the Republic of China 2005 Version published by the Government Information Office does claim Outer Mongolia.[25]

Disputes around China

Disputes between a state and a secessionist group with no territorial control

See List of active autonomist and secessionist movements

References

^ E.g. the constituent countries of the United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales).
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Field Listing - Disputes - international, CIA World Factbook
^ African Affairs - Sign In Page
^ Zapaterostirs anger of Morocco - International Herald Tribune
^ Middle-East-Info.org - Algeria
^ Why are Egypt and Sudan in dispute over the Hala'ib Triangle?(Quizzical)(Brief Article) | Geographical | Find Articles at BNET.com
^ The Court finds that Kasikili/Sedudu Island forms part of the territory of Botswana | Market Wire | Find Articles at BNET.com
^ Compte rendu du déplacement d'une délégation du groupe interparlementaire France-Afrique centrale au Gabon, en Guinée équatoriale et à Sao Tomé-et-Principe, parliamentary report of the French Senate, 2003.
^ Zapaterostirs anger of Morocco - International Herald Tribune
^ African Affairs - Sign In Page
^ Foroums Fox Presidency
^ UNAM
^ Yahoo News
^ Google search
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa The Republic of China (ROC) now based in Taiwan is involved in territorial disputes with many countries near China while not recognized by any of them due to having no diplomatic relations. The ROC recognizes neither the People's Republic of China (PRC) nor its border agreements or treaties with any other countries while Article 4 of the Constitution of the Republic of China states that "The territory of the Republic of China according to its existing national boundaries shall not be altered except by resolution of the National Assembly." Section 5 of Article 4 of the Additional Articles of the Constitution of the Republic of China now overrides this provision.
^ a b c The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) do not recognize each other.
^ Japan does not recognize the statehood of North Korea.
^ Status of Wrangel and Other Arctic Islands U.S. Department of State Fact Sheet on Wrangel Island
^ "Lawmakers Say Part Of Tenn. Belongs To Ga.", WSMV-TV, February 11, 2008
^ Shaila Dewan, Georgia Claims a Sliver of the Tennessee River, The New York Times, February 22, 2008
^ a b c d e f g . Relinquished by the People's Republic of China but still claimed by the Republic of China.
^ Additional Articles of the Constitution of the Republic of China, Article 9, Section 2
^ Constitution of the People's Republic of China, Preamble
^ Judicial Yuan Interpretation 328 translated by Professor J. P. Fa
^ (Chinese) Yearbook of the Republic of China 2005 Version (中華民國年鑑『九十四年版』): The land of the Mainland Area

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