Context and definitions
These disputes come typically related the possession of natural resources such as rivers, fertile farmland, mineral or oil resources, although the disputes can too become caused by culture, religion and ethnic nationalism. Inside numerous instances territorial disputes effect from either undefined & indecipherable language inside a accord that install the original boundary.

Territorial disputes come the major induced of wars and terrorism, as states typically try to assert their very, or even imagined, sovereignty over a territory across invasion, & non-state able try to influence a actions of politicians through terrorist act. International law doesn't trend lines a apply inflict by a single state to annex a territory of a second state. A [http://www.un.org/aboutun/charter/chapter1.htm UN Charter] says: "All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations."

Around a select few subjects like a Aksai Chin, the Taiwan straits, and Kashmir, both sides may define the line of control that serves as a de-facto international border. Although these lines come typically clearly demarcated, it don't use at times a legitimacy of an in agreement international boundary. The term border dispute applies exclusively to the numbers of suits in which the restrict territory bordering additional so 1 state (including an enclave in one state, e.g. Nagorno Karabach) is claimed by two or sir thomas more, non a super being of a wholly state challenged (e.g. Taiwan claimed by PR Chinthe to be a mere rebel province on the isl& of Formosa, and formally the other way around). The term occupied territories (see that article) in the main refers to regions distinct from either the recognized territory of a sovereign state however which it controls, especially by owning military unit. Possibly though the lon,g term occupation is general maintained when the means to at upon the territorial claim, this is non the requirement, as occupation can be like strategical (like creating a buffer zone or even even the preventive move to stop the rival power obtaining control) or a means of coercion (as a penalisation, to inflict occasionally internal measures or for utilize as a bargaining chip) Since a latter a portion of a 20th century, the unqualified term "occupied territories" has came to refer specifically to the West Bank & Gaza strip, whose status is heatedly disputed (look at Palestinian territories). The term Irredentism (see that article) applies to victims border- & more territorial claims that come justified by previous possession (the word means the move to produce link to) and/or at least at one time) belonging to a equivalent ethno-cultural entity Current territorial disputes

Fully control indicated around bold, unfair control indicated around italics.

Disputes involving states that recognize each other

Aksai Chin: '''People's Republic of China''' and India Arunachal Pradesh: People's Republic of China and India Bassas da India, Europa and Juan de Nova Islands: France and Madagascar Badme: Eritrea and Ethiopia Ceuta: Spain and Morocco Falkland Islands: United Kingdom and Argentina Finnish Karelia, Petsamo, Salla, Kuusamo, some islands of Gulf of Finland: Russia and Finland (not governmental debate) French Guiana west of the Marouini River: Suriname, France Gibraltar: United Kingdom and Spain Glorioso Islands: France, Madagascar and the Seychelles Golan Heights: Syria and Israel Guyana east of the Upper Courantyne River: Suriname, Guyana Guyana west of the Essequibo River: Venezuela, Guyana Hans Island: Canada and Denmark Hala'ib Triangle: Egypt and Sudan Isla Perejil: Morocco and Spain Ivangorod: Russia and Estonia Kashmir: India and Pakistan Korea: North Korea and South Korea Lower Kurile Islands: Japan and Russia Liancourt Rocks: Japan, South Korea and North Korea Mayotte: France and Comoros Melilla: Spain and Morocco Olivenza: Spain and Portugal Paracel Islands: '''People's Republic of China, Republic of China, Vietnam Pechorsky District of the Pskov Oblast: Russia and Estonia Pedra Branca: Singapore and Malaysia Pytalovsky District of the Pskov Oblast: Russia and Latvia Sabah (North Borneo): Philippines and Malaysia Senkaku Islands: Japan''', People's Republic of China and Republic of China Snake Island: Ukraine and Romania Spratly Islands: ''People's Republic of China, Republic of China, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei Tromelin: France and Mauritius Vozrozhdeniya Island (see Aral Sea) : Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan List of areas disputed by the United States and Canada

Disputes between a state and its subnational entities, or between subnational entities

Black Hills: United States government and the Lakota Nation Basque Country: Spain, France and the Basque people

Disputes involving parties that each have some territory under control but do not recognize each other

Abkhazia: Georgia and Republic of Abkhazia Northern Cyprus: Republic of Cyprus and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Nagorno-Karabakh: Nagorno-Karabakh Republic and Azerbaijan American Armenia, Van Province, Kars: Armenia and Turkey South Ossetia: Georgia and Republic of South Ossetia mainland China: Republic of China and 'People's Republic of China Puntland: Somalia and Puntland Somaliland: Somalia and Somaliland Taiwan, Quemoy, Matsu Islands, Pratas Islands: Republic of China''' and People's Republic of China Transnistria: Moldova and Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic Western Sahara: Morocco and Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic West Bank and Gaza Strip: Israel and the Palestinian National Authority

Disputes between a state and a secessionist group with no territorial control
View List of active autonomist and secessionist movements