Indo-China rivalry goes eons back, they have been at loggerheads since the disputed area called Aksai Chin emerged as a piece of meat both the countries fought for. Now, they are again flexing muscle at each other over the Dokalam area and the spat is only getting uglier with every passing day. However, India and China are not the first in human history to fight over a disputed land, it has a trailblazing history where other countries made their names rise into prominence. Here are a few examples of such disputed lands that made headlines:
Abkhazia and South Ossetia:
These are the two small breakaway republics of Georgia which fought for their independence from Georgia since 1920s, but to no avail until now. They both became part of Georgia after Russian revolution in 1917 but as two autonomous republics. Troubled waters were stirred for them after Soviet Union’s demise in the late 90s, when Georgia declared independence from USSR. Now both the states are refused to be recognized as sovereign states by the UN, EU and NATO.
Kosovo:
After the demise of Soviet Union, 5 new states came into surface Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Slovenia and FR Yugoslavia. In 1998-99 ‘Kosovo Liberation Army’ fought for the independence of Kosovo against Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. After the war, Yugoslavia abandoned the stranglehold over Kosovo and it became a UN controlled region.
West Sahara:
It is a disputed African territory in Western Sahara which comprises of desert flatlands. The place is thickly populated and according to the UN, its name figures in the non-decolonized territory in the ‘List of non-self-governing territories” which originally belongs to the Spanish Empire. Morocco has a claim to the territory and Arab League is in support for it.
Gibraltar:
It is located in the ideal position of Gibraltar strait which provides access to the Mediterranean and the Suez where there is a control of joint military bases of Morocco and UK. Along the border, Spain also deployed its military. It is recognized by NATO as a ‘British Overseas Territory’ and Spain made several attempt to recapture it through the sieges.
South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands:
It is located close to the Falkland Islands on which both Argentina and UK hold their claims since 18th century. UK claimed sovereignty over it in 1775 after a voyage of James Cook and the Sandwich Islands in 1908 while Argentina established the claim when an Argentine registered whaling company went functional in South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands. However, it came under Argentine control after 1982 Falkland war and later went to the UK. Argentina still holds its claim over the territory.
Tibet:
In the wake of Yun Dynasty, China claims that Tibet had been an inseparable part of their land which is nodded by USA, UK, EU. Things went adverse after Invasion of Tibet in 1950 and Dalai Lama exiled in India. Tibet is an autonomous region under Chinese control now.
Cyprus:
It is the main reason of war between Greece and Turkey. The Ottoman Turks gained control over the island in the year 1571 which was leased later to UK in the year 1878. In the treaty of Laussane terminated Turkish claim on the island and now NATO has intervened to keep peace in both islands.
These are the instances of infamous rivalries among countries over some disputed areas.
