Top 10 Controversial Territorial Disputes

these contested regions continue to

these contested regions continue to spark conflict welcome to watchmojo.com

spark conflict welcome to watchmojo.com

spark conflict welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks

and today we’re counting down our picks

and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten controversial

for the top ten controversial

for the top ten controversial territorial disputes what the hell is

territorial disputes what the hell is

territorial disputes what the hell is Israel it’s just something Rick starts

Israel it’s just something Rick starts

Israel it’s just something Rick starts talking about when he’s blackout drunk

talking about when he’s blackout drunk

talking about when he’s blackout drunk what and way before we begin we publish

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content for this list we’re looking at

content for this list we’re looking at current territorial disputes and ranking

current territorial disputes and ranking

current territorial disputes and ranking them based on past and present activity

them based on past and present activity

them based on past and present activity as well as their political impact if

as well as their political impact if

as well as their political impact if anything the drunk version of me is

anything the drunk version of me is

anything the drunk version of me is probably so supportive of Israel he

probably so supportive of Israel he

probably so supportive of Israel he wants what’s best for it and amen I’m

wants what’s best for it and amen I’m

wants what’s best for it and amen I’m not touching this you do you number 10

not touching this you do you number 10

not touching this you do you number 10 Western Sahara in 1975 Spain handed

Western Sahara in 1975 Spain handed

Western Sahara in 1975 Spain handed Western Sahara over to Morocco and

Western Sahara over to Morocco and

Western Sahara over to Morocco and Mauritania but the indigenous South

Mauritania but the indigenous South

Mauritania but the indigenous South Rallye people who had resisted colonial

Rallye people who had resisted colonial

Rallye people who had resisted colonial rule for decades had other ideas a new

rule for decades had other ideas a new

rule for decades had other ideas a new nationalist movement called the

nationalist movement called the

nationalist movement called the Polisario Front demanded independence

Polisario Front demanded independence

Polisario Front demanded independence Mauritania withdrew a few years into the

Mauritania withdrew a few years into the

Mauritania withdrew a few years into the conflict leaving the Polisario and

conflict leaving the Polisario and

conflict leaving the Polisario and Morocco to fight it out accusations of

Morocco to fight it out accusations of

Morocco to fight it out accusations of human rights violations have been made

human rights violations have been made

human rights violations have been made against both sides with Morocco

against both sides with Morocco

against both sides with Morocco reportedly bombing refugee camps with

reportedly bombing refugee camps with

reportedly bombing refugee camps with napalm and the sudden disappearances of

napalm and the sudden disappearances of

napalm and the sudden disappearances of Sahrawi civilians while the Polisario

Sahrawi civilians while the Polisario

Sahrawi civilians while the Polisario have been accused of torturing and

have been accused of torturing and

have been accused of torturing and killing POWs a ceasefire was agreed upon

killing POWs a ceasefire was agreed upon

killing POWs a ceasefire was agreed upon in 1991 but the Polisario and moroccan

in 1991 but the Polisario and moroccan

in 1991 but the Polisario and moroccan government remained deadlocked with

government remained deadlocked with

government remained deadlocked with Morocco controlling most of the region

Morocco controlling most of the region

Morocco controlling most of the region from behind a massive sand wall number 9

from behind a massive sand wall number 9

from behind a massive sand wall number 9 the South China Sea the South China Sea

the South China Sea the South China Sea

the South China Sea the South China Sea has long been a source of tension in the

has long been a source of tension in the

has long been a source of tension in the region with many countries making

region with many countries making

region with many countries making competing territorial claims a third of

competing territorial claims a third of

competing territorial claims a third of worldwide maritime traffic passes

worldwide maritime traffic passes

worldwide maritime traffic passes through these contested waters and it’s

through these contested waters and it’s

through these contested waters and it’s believed to potentially harbor vast oil

believed to potentially harbor vast oil

believed to potentially harbor vast oil reserves

reserves

reserves but in recent years China has brought

but in recent years China has brought

but in recent years China has brought the situation to a head by building

the situation to a head by building

the situation to a head by building artificial islands and military bases

artificial islands and military bases

artificial islands and military bases China is entitled to protecting though

China is entitled to protecting though

China is entitled to protecting though preserving the sovereignty and the

preserving the sovereignty and the

preserving the sovereignty and the territorial integrity our own national

territorial integrity our own national

territorial integrity our own national core interests an international tribunal

core interests an international tribunal

core interests an international tribunal ruled against China’s claim to

ruled against China’s claim to

ruled against China’s claim to historical rights and the US has sailed

historical rights and the US has sailed

historical rights and the US has sailed naval vessels through the area to

naval vessels through the area to

naval vessels through the area to promote freedom of navigation meanwhile

promote freedom of navigation meanwhile

promote freedom of navigation meanwhile Chinese state-run media has warned of a

Chinese state-run media has warned of a

Chinese state-run media has warned of a quote devastating confrontation between

quote devastating confrontation between

quote devastating confrontation between China and the US if their access to the

China and the US if their access to the

China and the US if their access to the islands is blocked number eight the

islands is blocked number eight the

islands is blocked number eight the Falkland Islands France was actually

Falkland Islands France was actually

Falkland Islands France was actually first to establish a settlement on this

first to establish a settlement on this

first to establish a settlement on this much-sought-after archipelago in the

much-sought-after archipelago in the

much-sought-after archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean but they soon

South Atlantic Ocean but they soon

South Atlantic Ocean but they soon transferred the claim to Spain in 1766

transferred the claim to Spain in 1766

transferred the claim to Spain in 1766 the same year the British established

the same year the British established

the same year the British established their own settlement the British have

their own settlement the British have

their own settlement the British have controlled the islands since 1833 but

controlled the islands since 1833 but

controlled the islands since 1833 but since gaining independence from Spain in

since gaining independence from Spain in

since gaining independence from Spain in 1816 Argentina has also claimed

1816 Argentina has also claimed

1816 Argentina has also claimed ownership which they attempted to assert

ownership which they attempted to assert

ownership which they attempted to assert in 1982 with the invasion of both the

in 1982 with the invasion of both the

in 1982 with the invasion of both the Falklands and the South Georgia and

Falklands and the South Georgia and

Falklands and the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands Argentina’s

South Sandwich Islands Argentina’s

South Sandwich Islands Argentina’s military junta seemingly hoped that the

military junta seemingly hoped that the

military junta seemingly hoped that the UK wouldn’t risk open violence but the

UK wouldn’t risk open violence but the

UK wouldn’t risk open violence but the gamble did not pay off responding with

gamble did not pay off responding with

gamble did not pay off responding with force the British took back the

force the British took back the

force the British took back the territories in just over three months

territories in just over three months

territories in just over three months nonetheless both nations continue to

nonetheless both nations continue to

nonetheless both nations continue to claim sovereignty over the territory

claim sovereignty over the territory

claim sovereignty over the territory today number seven Cyprus this

today number seven Cyprus this

today number seven Cyprus this Mediterranean island has been fought

Mediterranean island has been fought

Mediterranean island has been fought over by Greek and Turkish forces for

over by Greek and Turkish forces for

over by Greek and Turkish forces for decades for hundreds of years

decades for hundreds of years

decades for hundreds of years Cyprus was under Ottoman control until

Cyprus was under Ottoman control until

Cyprus was under Ottoman control until being leased to the British in 1878

being leased to the British in 1878

being leased to the British in 1878 before eventually becoming independent

before eventually becoming independent

before eventually becoming independent in 1960 but while Greek Cypriots wish to

in 1960 but while Greek Cypriots wish to

in 1960 but while Greek Cypriots wish to become part of Greece Turkish Cypriots

become part of Greece Turkish Cypriots

become part of Greece Turkish Cypriots wanted separate Greek and Turkish

wanted separate Greek and Turkish

wanted separate Greek and Turkish sectors resulting in years of unrest

sectors resulting in years of unrest

sectors resulting in years of unrest after a Greek Hunta and Cypriot National

after a Greek Hunta and Cypriot National

after a Greek Hunta and Cypriot National Guard staged a coup in 1974 removing

Guard staged a coup in 1974 removing

Guard staged a coup in 1974 removing their then president makarios the 3rd

their then president makarios the 3rd

their then president makarios the 3rd Turkey invaded and occupied Northern

Turkey invaded and occupied Northern

Turkey invaded and occupied Northern Cyprus their continued occupation is

Cyprus their continued occupation is

Cyprus their continued occupation is condemned by the international community

condemned by the international community

condemned by the international community and since 2015 both the north and south

and since 2015 both the north and south

and since 2015 both the north and south sides of the island have been in talks

sides of the island have been in talks

sides of the island have been in talks about unifying Cyprus once more but

about unifying Cyprus once more but

about unifying Cyprus once more but it remains an island paradise divided

it remains an island paradise divided

it remains an island paradise divided indefinitely number six Kashmir when the

indefinitely number six Kashmir when the

indefinitely number six Kashmir when the British partitioned the British Indian

British partitioned the British Indian

British partitioned the British Indian empire into the dominions of India and

empire into the dominions of India and

empire into the dominions of India and Pakistan in 1947 Kashmir descended into

Pakistan in 1947 Kashmir descended into

Pakistan in 1947 Kashmir descended into chaos it had a mostly Muslim population

chaos it had a mostly Muslim population

chaos it had a mostly Muslim population but was ruled by a Hindu Maharajah who

but was ruled by a Hindu Maharajah who

but was ruled by a Hindu Maharajah who had elected to remain independent with

had elected to remain independent with

had elected to remain independent with encouragement from the Muslim League

encouragement from the Muslim League

encouragement from the Muslim League Muslims revolted Hindu and Sikh

Muslims revolted Hindu and Sikh

Muslims revolted Hindu and Sikh extremists retaliated massacring

extremists retaliated massacring

extremists retaliated massacring thousands of Muslims which then resulted

thousands of Muslims which then resulted

thousands of Muslims which then resulted in violence and killings of Hindus and

in violence and killings of Hindus and

in violence and killings of Hindus and Sikhs the dispute has exploded into

Sikhs the dispute has exploded into

Sikhs the dispute has exploded into several conflicts over the decades and

several conflicts over the decades and

several conflicts over the decades and was the motivation behind the tragic

was the motivation behind the tragic

was the motivation behind the tragic 2008 Mumbai attacks orchestrated by the

2008 Mumbai attacks orchestrated by the

2008 Mumbai attacks orchestrated by the terrorist group lashkar-e-taiba number

terrorist group lashkar-e-taiba number

terrorist group lashkar-e-taiba number five Taiwan when Mao Zedong’s Communist

five Taiwan when Mao Zedong’s Communist

five Taiwan when Mao Zedong’s Communist Party took control of China in 1949 the

Party took control of China in 1949 the

Party took control of China in 1949 the defeated government fled to the island

defeated government fled to the island

defeated government fled to the island of Taiwan to this day there has been no

of Taiwan to this day there has been no

of Taiwan to this day there has been no lasting solution to the conflict between

lasting solution to the conflict between

lasting solution to the conflict between the People’s Republic of China on the

the People’s Republic of China on the

the People’s Republic of China on the mainland and the Republic of China in

mainland and the Republic of China in

mainland and the Republic of China in Taiwan both continue to claim rights to

Taiwan both continue to claim rights to

Taiwan both continue to claim rights to both the mainland and Taiwan while

both the mainland and Taiwan while

both the mainland and Taiwan while growing in opposite economic and

growing in opposite economic and

growing in opposite economic and political directions unofficial support

political directions unofficial support

political directions unofficial support for Taiwan and demand for Taiwanese

for Taiwan and demand for Taiwanese

for Taiwan and demand for Taiwanese products paired with official diplomatic

products paired with official diplomatic

products paired with official diplomatic support of the People’s Republic of

support of the People’s Republic of

support of the People’s Republic of China has so far helped to prevent the

China has so far helped to prevent the

China has so far helped to prevent the conflict from escalating

conflict from escalating

conflict from escalating but the situation remains tense it seems

but the situation remains tense it seems

but the situation remains tense it seems that every time diplomatic relations

that every time diplomatic relations

that every time diplomatic relations begin to improve whispers of

begin to improve whispers of

begin to improve whispers of Independence resurfaced resulting in a

Independence resurfaced resulting in a

Independence resurfaced resulting in a backslide in the relationship number for

backslide in the relationship number for

backslide in the relationship number for Crimea in 2014 the Russian Federation

Crimea in 2014 the Russian Federation

Crimea in 2014 the Russian Federation took advantage of unrest in Ukraine to

took advantage of unrest in Ukraine to

took advantage of unrest in Ukraine to annex the Crimean Peninsula after years

annex the Crimean Peninsula after years

annex the Crimean Peninsula after years of corruption revolutionaries a ousted

of corruption revolutionaries a ousted

of corruption revolutionaries a ousted President Viktor Yanukovych who had

President Viktor Yanukovych who had

President Viktor Yanukovych who had chosen to strengthen ties with Russia

chosen to strengthen ties with Russia

chosen to strengthen ties with Russia over an association agreement with the

over an association agreement with the

over an association agreement with the European Union unmarked Russian soldiers

European Union unmarked Russian soldiers

European Union unmarked Russian soldiers took over the Crimean Parliament and

took over the Crimean Parliament and

took over the Crimean Parliament and installed a pro-russian government after

installed a pro-russian government after

installed a pro-russian government after which a referendum was soon held with

which a referendum was soon held with

which a referendum was soon held with Crimea allegedly voting to join the

Crimea allegedly voting to join the

Crimea allegedly voting to join the Russian Federation

Russian Federation

Russian Federation was condemned by the UN and called

was condemned by the UN and called

was condemned by the UN and called unconstitutional by the Constitutional

unconstitutional by the Constitutional

unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court of Ukraine Russia had severe

Court of Ukraine Russia had severe

Court of Ukraine Russia had severe economic sanctions brought against it

economic sanctions brought against it

economic sanctions brought against it which has contributed to an ongoing

which has contributed to an ongoing

which has contributed to an ongoing financial crisis number three

financial crisis number three

financial crisis number three Tibet in 1959 ease forces invaded Tibet

Tibet in 1959 ease forces invaded Tibet

Tibet in 1959 ease forces invaded Tibet smashing through Tibetan resistance and

smashing through Tibetan resistance and

smashing through Tibetan resistance and incorporating the region into China but

incorporating the region into China but

incorporating the region into China but with covert support from the CIA

with covert support from the CIA

with covert support from the CIA Tibetans continued to fight back

Tibetans continued to fight back

Tibetans continued to fight back culminating in the 1959 Tibetan uprising

culminating in the 1959 Tibetan uprising

culminating in the 1959 Tibetan uprising it was quickly quelled with tens of

it was quickly quelled with tens of

it was quickly quelled with tens of thousands of Tibetans killed and the

thousands of Tibetans killed and the

thousands of Tibetans killed and the Dalai Lama fled to India China then

Dalai Lama fled to India China then

Dalai Lama fled to India China then proceeded to destroy thousands of

proceeded to destroy thousands of

proceeded to destroy thousands of monasteries and suppress Tibetan culture

monasteries and suppress Tibetan culture

monasteries and suppress Tibetan culture the socialist land reforms of Mao

the socialist land reforms of Mao

the socialist land reforms of Mao Zedong’s so-called Great Leap Forward

Zedong’s so-called Great Leap Forward

Zedong’s so-called Great Leap Forward contributed to the great Chinese famine

contributed to the great Chinese famine

contributed to the great Chinese famine that killed millions while his Cultural

that killed millions while his Cultural

that killed millions while his Cultural Revolution left a legacy of violence and

Revolution left a legacy of violence and

Revolution left a legacy of violence and destruction

destruction

destruction today the Tibetan government-in-exile

today the Tibetan government-in-exile

today the Tibetan government-in-exile continues to claim sovereignty but China

continues to claim sovereignty but China

continues to claim sovereignty but China remains unflinching in its control

remains unflinching in its control

remains unflinching in its control number two Korea when Japan relinquished

number two Korea when Japan relinquished

number two Korea when Japan relinquished Korea at the end of the Second World War

Korea at the end of the Second World War

Korea at the end of the Second World War the Soviet Union took charge of the

the Soviet Union took charge of the

the Soviet Union took charge of the north and the u.s. the South but Cold

north and the u.s. the South but Cold

north and the u.s. the South but Cold War politics ended hopes of peaceful

War politics ended hopes of peaceful

War politics ended hopes of peaceful reunification and with support from the

reunification and with support from the

reunification and with support from the Soviet Union the North invaded the South

Soviet Union the North invaded the South

Soviet Union the North invaded the South precipitating the Korean War that war

precipitating the Korean War that war

precipitating the Korean War that war ended with an estimated 1.2 million dead

ended with an estimated 1.2 million dead

ended with an estimated 1.2 million dead and the borders unchanged however both

and the borders unchanged however both

and the borders unchanged however both North and South Korea continued to claim

North and South Korea continued to claim

North and South Korea continued to claim the whole Korean Peninsula the North’s

the whole Korean Peninsula the North’s

the whole Korean Peninsula the North’s aggressive and hyperbolic threats

aggressive and hyperbolic threats

aggressive and hyperbolic threats against the South have led to mounting

against the South have led to mounting

against the South have led to mounting international tension particularly

international tension particularly

international tension particularly between North Korea and the United

between North Korea and the United

between North Korea and the United States before we unveil our number-one

States before we unveil our number-one

States before we unveil our number-one pick here are some honorable mentions

pick here are some honorable mentions

pick here are some honorable mentions [Music]

[Music]

[Music] number one Israel and Palestine this

number one Israel and Palestine this

number one Israel and Palestine this conflict is as polarizing as it is

conflict is as polarizing as it is

conflict is as polarizing as it is intractable and has spawned a war with

intractable and has spawned a war with

intractable and has spawned a war with seemingly no end in sight after the

seemingly no end in sight after the

seemingly no end in sight after the Holocaust the UN resolved to divide

Holocaust the UN resolved to divide

Holocaust the UN resolved to divide Palestine which was under British

Palestine which was under British

Palestine which was under British governance into Arab and Jewish states

governance into Arab and Jewish states

governance into Arab and Jewish states for Jewish settlers this fulfilled the

for Jewish settlers this fulfilled the

for Jewish settlers this fulfilled the dream of a national homeland but to

dream of a national homeland but to

dream of a national homeland but to Palestinians it seemed like a

Palestinians it seemed like a

Palestinians it seemed like a continuation of colonialism after

continuation of colonialism after

continuation of colonialism after subsequent wars Israel now occupies much

subsequent wars Israel now occupies much

subsequent wars Israel now occupies much of the territory with extensive

of the territory with extensive

of the territory with extensive settlements in the West Bank though a

settlements in the West Bank though a

settlements in the West Bank though a two-state solution has long been the

two-state solution has long been the

two-state solution has long been the favoured potential route to peace

favoured potential route to peace

favoured potential route to peace negotiations have repeatedly broken down

negotiations have repeatedly broken down

negotiations have repeatedly broken down with the last round of negotiations

with the last round of negotiations

with the last round of negotiations starting in 2013 and being suspended the

starting in 2013 and being suspended the

starting in 2013 and being suspended the following year do you agree with our

following year do you agree with our

following year do you agree with our picks check out these other great clips

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