02/06/2024
Spratly Islands:
Claimants: China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei.
Conflict: The islands are located in the South China Sea and are believed to be rich in oil and natural gas.
Paracel Islands:
Claimants: China, Vietnam, Taiwan.
Conflict: Located in the South China Sea, these islands are strategically significant and potentially resource-rich.
Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands:
Claimants: Japan, China, Taiwan.
Conflict: Located in the East China Sea, the islands are strategically important and potentially rich in resources.
Kuril Islands/Northern Territories:
Claimants: Russia, Japan.
Conflict: The islands are strategically located between the Sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean.
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas):
Claimants: United Kingdom, Argentina.
Conflict: Argentina claims the islands, which are under British control, based on historical and geographical arguments.
Dokdo/Takeshima Islands:
Claimants: South Korea, Japan.
Conflict: Located in the Sea of Japan (East Sea), the islands are under South Korean control but claimed by Japan.
Scarborough Shoal:
Claimants: China, Philippines.
Conflict: Located in the South China Sea, the shoal is claimed by both countries due to its strategic location and resources.
Islas de San Andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina
Claimants: Colombia, Nicaragua.
Conflict: The islands are controlled by Colombia but are claimed by Nicaragua.
Hans Island:
Claimants: Denmark (Greenland), Canada.
Conflict: Located in the Nares Strait between Greenland and Canada, the island is uninhabited but strategically significant.
Liancourt Rocks:
Claimants: South Korea, Japan.
Conflict: Known as Dokdo in Korea and Takeshima in Japan, the rocks are controlled by South Korea but claimed by Japan.
Aegean Islands:
Claimants: Greece, Turkey.
Conflict: Various islands and maritime boundaries in the Aegean Sea are contested between Greece and Turkey.
Perejil Island:
Claimants: Spain, Morocco.
Conflict: Located in the Strait of Gibraltar, the island is uninhabited but has been the site of military confrontations.
Southern Thule (South Sandwich Islands):
Claimants: United Kingdom, Argentina.
Conflict: Part of the British Overseas Territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, claimed by Argentina.
Diomede Islands:
Claimants: Russia, United States.
Conflict: Big Diomede is controlled by Russia and Little Diomede by the United States, separated by the International Date Line and a narrow strait.
Here's an extended list of additional disputed islands around the world, including some lesser-known ones:
Qit'at Jaradah:
Claimants: Bahrain, Qatar.
Conflict: Located in the Persian Gulf, the island's ownership was a subject of dispute settled by the International Court of Justice in 2001, favoring Bahrain.
Tiran and Sanafir Islands:
Claimants: Egypt, Saudi Arabia.
Conflict: Located in the Straits of Tiran, these islands were transferred from Egyptian to Saudi Arabian control in 2017, but the transfer remains controversial.
Hawar Islands:
Claimants: Bahrain, Qatar.
Conflict: These islands in the Persian Gulf were the subject of a dispute resolved by the International Court of Justice in 2001, which awarded them to Bahrain.
Mayotte:
Claimants: France, Comoros.
Conflict: The island is administered by France but claimed by Comoros since Mayotte voted to remain part of France in referenda.
Matthew and Hunter Islands:
Claimants: Vanuatu, France (New Caledonia).
Conflict: These islands in the Pacific are claimed by both Vanuatu and France.
Serranilla Bank:
Claimants: Colombia, United States (via claim by Honduras).
Conflict: This bank in the Caribbean Sea is controlled by Colombia but also claimed by the United States.
Navassa Island:
Claimants: United States, Haiti.
Conflict: Located in the Caribbean Sea, the island is administered by the United States but claimed by Haiti.
Bir Tawil:
Claimants: Egypt, Sudan.
Conflict: This area is claimed by neither Egypt nor Sudan, which both want the more valuable Hala'ib Triangle instead.
Mellish Reef:
Claimants: Australia, France (New Caledonia).
Conflict: Located in the Coral Sea, the reef is claimed by both Australia and France.
Kunashir Island:
Claimants: Russia, Japan.
Conflict: Part of the Kuril Islands dispute, the island is administered by Russia but claimed by Japan.
South Talpatti/New Moore Island:
Claimants: India, Bangladesh.
Conflict: This island in the Bay of Bengal emerged in the 1970s and submerged in 2010, reducing the conflict.
Meiji Reef:
Claimants: China, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam.
Conflict: Part of the Spratly Islands, claimed by multiple countries.
Kashmir Valley:
Claimants: India, Pakistan, China.
Conflict: Although not an island, the region involves disputes over territories including Aksai Chin and the Siachen Glacier.
Qasr Farouk:
Claimants: Egypt, Saudi Arabia.
Conflict: Part of the ongoing maritime boundary disputes between the two countries.
Maritime boundary disputes in the Gulf of Guinea:
Claimants: Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea.
Conflict: Involves disputes over islands and maritime boundaries due to oil-rich regions.
These islands and maritime boundaries are subjects of complex geopolitical, historical, and legal disputes, often involving international mediation and adjudication.