Disputed Political Borders

Suphasuta Kittihut

Abkhazia and South Ossetia

Both Abkhazia and South Ossetia are
breakaway republics from Georgia in the
Caucasus. The two little known territories
have battled for independence from Georgia
since the 1920s, but are still unsuccessful in
their claims. Until after the 2008 war, Russia
officially recognized the countries as two,
separate and individual states, and along
with Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nauru and
Vanuatu is one of the only countries to
officially recognize the states. The UN, EU
and NATO, however, refuse to recognize
Abkhazia and South Ossetia as sovereign
states.
Status: On going

India and Pakistan

India's Muslim leaders demanded a Muslim
homeland as a condition for independence in
1947. The British relinquished their hold on the
subcontinent, giving way to a predominantly
Hindu India and a Muslim Pakistan.
Kashmir was free to accede to either nation.
Maharaja Hari Singh, the ruler of the kingdom,
initially chose to remain independent but
eventually opted to join India, thereby handing
key powers to the central government in New
Delhi. In exchange, India guaranteed him
military protection and vowed to hold a popular
vote on the issue.
Status: On going

Spain and United Kingdom

The territory of Gibraltar has been fought over
for years, due to its ideal position on the
Gibraltar strait. An Anglo-Dutch force originally
captured Gibraltar in 1704, during the War of the
Spanish Succession. The territory subsequently
ceded to Britain by Spain forever under the
Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. Since the territory was
handed over, the Spanish have tried three times
to recapture the town through sieges, but none
were successful. It now holds a claim to the
territory, although it still remains British.
Referendums were held, in 1967 and 2002, to
return Gibraltar to Spain, but 99% of the
population voted to remain a British Territory on
both occasions.
Status: British Overseas Territory

Thailand and Cambodia

The CambodianThai border dispute
began in June 2008 as the latest round of a
century-long dispute between Cambodia and
Thailand involving the area surrounding the 11th
century Preah Vihear Temple. On 11 November
2013, the ICJ declared in a unanimous decision
that the 1962 ICJ judgment had awarded all of
the promontory of Preah Vihear to Cambodia
and that Thailand had an obligation to withdraw
any Thai military, police, or guard forces
stationed in that area. However, it rejected
Cambodia's argument that the judgment had
also awarded the hill of Phnom Trap to
Cambodia, finding that it had made no ruling on
sovereignty over the hill.
Status: Cambodia

Ethiopia and Somalia

Ogaden or West Somalia as referred to by locals,
is exclusively inhabited by ethnic Somalis.
Somalia claims the region as part of
Greater Somalia and as a result have gone to war
with Ethiopia twice in 1962 and 1977 see
Ogaden War. The area is currently administered
by Ethiopia.

Status: Ethiopia

South Korea and North Korea

Previously under Japanese rule from 1910-1945,
Korea became divided into two separate
countries in the aftermath of World War II. The
Korean Peninsula is located in Northeast Asia. It
includes the countries of North Korea and South
Korea. The Korean War came to an end after 3
years. In all, some 5 million soldiers and civilians
lost their lives during the war. The Korean
peninsula is still divided today.

Status: On going

Russia and Ukraine

The conflict arose in 2003 when the Russian
authorities started to build a dam towards the
island. Since then Ukraine established a border
garrison on the island for a closer surveillance.
The reason for the conflict is the fact that Tuzla
island strategic location gives Ukraine full rights
over the main channel in the Strait of Kerch and,
thus, the access to the Sea of Azov. The conflict is
based on the division of theBlack Sea Fleet and a
lease agreement of the Sevastopol Naval
facilities.

Status: On going

Spain and Protugal

In 1801, during the War of the Oranges, Spain,
with French military support, occupied the
territory of Olivenza (in Portuguese Olivena).
During the Treaty of Vienna (1815), the signatory
powers pledged to mediate in favor of Portugal,
but, in 1816 Portugal invaded what is now
Uruguay and as a response Spain decided not to
return the territory.

Status: Spain(dispute)

South Africa and Swaziland

Swaziland claims territories which it states were
confiscated during colonial times. The area
claimed by Swaziland is the former bantustan of
KaNgwane, which now forms the northern parts
of Jozini and uMhlabuyalingana local
municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal, and the
southern part of Nkomazi, the southeastern part
of Umjindi and the far eastern part of
Albert Luthuli local municipalities in
Mpumalanga.KaNgwane was re-integrated into
South Africa on 26 April 1994. Its territory now
forms part of the province of Mpumalanga.

Status: South Africa

South Korea and Japan

Both Japan and South Korea claim the
Dokdo/Takeshima islands, so too does North
Korea. The island grouping was formally placed
under the jurisdiction of Uldo county in 1900, it
said, but annexed by Japan in 1905 ahead of its
colonisation of the Korean peninsula. Dokdo was
rightly restored to Korea after World War II, it
says. "Dokdo is an integral part of Korean
territory historically, geographically and under
international law," it says
on a government website dedicated to the
Status: South Korea

issue
.

Citations
(n.d.). Retrieved August 27, 2015, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CambodianThai_border_dispute
(n.d.). Retrieved August 27, 2015, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_territorial_disputes#Asia_and_the_Pacific
Basu, M. (2010, September 26). Retrieved August 27, 2015, from
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/09/25/india.kashmir.explainer/
Korean Peninsula. (n.d.). Retrieved August 27, 2015, from
http://www.buildingpeace.org/think-global-conflict/mapping-conflict/korean-peninsula
Korean War. (n.d.). Retrieved August 27, 2015, from http://www.history.com/topics/korean-war
Profile: Dokdo/Takeshima islands - BBC News. (n.d.). Retrieved August 27, 2015, from
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-19207086
Top 10 Controversial Territorial Disputes - Listverse. (2011, September 1). Retrieved August 27, 2015, from
http://listverse.com/2011/09/02/top-10-controversial-territorial-disputes/