Territorial dispute or conflict is a disagreement over the control of land between political entities, such as states. China is becoming the world’s superpower, no wonder the Chinese government is voicing territorial claims against many of its neighbors.
China’s territorial claims
Taiwan
Taiwan is an island that split from mainland China’s government in 1949. China’s ruling Communist Party demands other states recognize Taiwan as the PRC territory.
South China Sea
China claims almost 1.3 million square miles of the South China Sea. The territory is also claimed by Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Brunei. To support its claims, China built artificial islands fortified with weapons systems.
Japan
Japan and China dispute over a rocky, uninhabited island chain. In China, it is called Diaoyu Islands; in Japan, it is called Senkaku Islands. Taiwan also claims the territory and calls it Tiaoyutai Islands. The island chain is wanted because it holds rich fishing grounds, as well as deposits of natural gas and oils. Another Japan-China territory conflict is over the Ryukyu Islands.
India
In the 1960s, China and India agreed on a borderline called the Line of Actual Control. The thing is, both countries do not agree on the precise location. Every now and then the countries accuse each other of overstepping the boundary.
Bhutan
Since China invaded Tibet, the China-Bhutan relationship has been strained. Both Kingdom of Bhutan and China claim the Doklam plateau. Even though China and Bhutan signed a bilateral agreement to maintain peace on the border, China violates it.
Laos
With reference to historical records, China claims ownership of a large part of Laos territory.
