Session 23: Territorial Conflicts

Of the various forms of international conflict, many of the most controversial conflicts are usually territorial conflicts. The concept itself seems really simple, a conflict pertaining to the ownership of a land or geographical area. However, the nature of territorial conflicts is such that we can seldom identify one right side of the clash. Arguably the most controversial territorial conflict the world has experienced so far is that relating to Taiwan.


Taiwan was surrendered to China by Japan after the Second World War. When a civil war broke out in China, Taiwan declared independence from what is now known as the People’s Republic of China, which was significantly different from the former ROC. The Chinese however, argued that the current government of Taiwan, which refers to itself as the ROC, is illegal and that Taiwan should still be considered a part of Mainland China. Since then. several states have recognized the ROC as an independent nation and, not surprisingly, China has cut all ties with such states. Such a scenario begs the question; who are we to blame, the Chinese for enforcing cooperation on the people of Taiwan or Taiwan for declaring independence on 'weak grounds'?