Territorial dispute

Territorial disputes often result from vague and unclear language in a treaty that set up the original boundary.

In some cases in which the boundary is not demarcated, such as the Taiwan Strait, and Kashmir, the parties involved define a Line of Control, which serves as the de facto international border.

Article 1 of the Montevideo Convention declares that "[t]he state as a person of international law should possess the following qualifications: (a) a permanent population; (b) a defined territory; (c) government; and (d) capacity to enter into relations with other States" [1] Also, B. T. Sumner's article mentions, "In international law and relations, ownership of territory is significant because sovereignty over land defines what constitutes a state.

"[2] Therefore, the breach of a country's borders or territorial disputes pose a threat to a state's very sovereignty and the right as a person of international law.

In addition, territorial disputes are sometimes brought to the International Court of Justice, as was the case in Costa Rica and Nicaragua (2005).

The Line of Control divides the Pakistan-controlled Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan and the Indian-controlled union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh . The Line of Actual Control divides the China-controlled Aksai Chin and the Indian-controlled union territory of Ladakh.
Map of the current buffer zone in Cyprus
A Japanese poster calling for the return of the Northern Territories from Russian administration