Bolivia and
Chile
Area of dispute: The small chunk of territory
that separates Bolivia from the Pacific Ocean.
Why it matters: one word: water. An arrangement
between the two countries allows landlocked Bolivia to ship its goods to the
ocean tariff-free through northern Chilean ports. But that’s not enough to
satisfy Bolivia, which lost 250 miles of the disputed coastline in a 19th
century war.
Current status: In early July, the two
countries set up a joint committee to improve bilateral ties, suggesting that
full diplomatic relations—which were broken over the sea-access issue 30 years
ago—could be restored. Chilean President Michelle Bachelet is open to that idea,
especially since Bolivia’s immense reserves of natural gas could help fuel the
energy-hungry Chilean economy. But she has emphatically dismissed the
possibility of ceding any territory.
Brunei, China, Malaysia,
the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam
Area of dispute: The Spratly Islands, a cluster
of more than 100 tiny reefs, islets, and atolls in the South China Sea, with a
land area of less than 5 square miles.
Why it matters: Food, traffic, and oil. The
Spratly Islands are one of the most heavily fished areas in the world. They’re
also located in the center of the principle shipping route between Europe and
Asia. And most lucrative of all are the untapped energy sources from the seabed
below. China estimates that there are 17.7 billion tons of oil in the area,
which would make it the fourth-largest oil reserve in the world.
Current status: The reasons for sovereignty
claims are myriad: Some nations insist that they have historical ownership,
while others say that geographical logic should prevail. All parties laying
claim to the territory with the exception of Brunei maintain a military presence
on the islands, despite a 2002 commitment (signed by all but Taiwan) to resolve
differences by peaceful means. Although military confrontations have calmed down
in recent years, the islands remain a hot-button issue in the region.
Canada and
Denmark
Area of dispute: Hans Island, a tiny, icy rock
near the Arctic Ocean between Canada’s Ellesmere Island and Greenland, a
semi-autonomous Danish territory.
Why it matters: As global warming melts sea
ice, northern Arctic sea routes that have been impassable for centuries are
slowly opening to navigation. Although even the hardy Inuit consider Hans Island
itself to be uninhabitable, the route just north of the Northwest Passage is
especially coveted by naval and shipping fleets.
Current status: Government officials and
military personnel from both countries have made showy visits to the island over
the years. Denmark’s minister for Greenland once left a bottle of Danish
schnapps, prompting subsequent Canadian visitors to leave their own beverages as
marks of ownership. Last year, the Canadian defense minister made a brief
helicopter stopover to Hans Island to assert Canadian sovereignty, prompting
Greenland to denounce the “occupation” attempt. Formal negotiations between
Denmark and Canada have begun—but the Danish Navy remains stationed
nearby.
China and
India
Area of dispute: Several sections of the
2,200-mile border between the two giants. India wants a Chinese-controlled
section of Kashmir the size of Switzerland. China claims parts of the Indian
state Arunachal Pradesh covering an area three times that size.
Why it matters: Because it’s China and India.
Simply put, any spat between the two nations matters. Together, they account for
38 percent of the world’s population, and in 50 years, they’ll account for half
of the world’s gross domestic product. And don’t forget, both have nukes. Bad
relations between China and India are bad for everyone. Also, any shift in
Sino-Indian relations over Kashmir could affect Pakistan, another nuclear
state.
Current status: The two countries fought a
bitter border war in 1962, which China won handily, poisoning relations for the
next several decades. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Indian Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh met in April 2005 to discuss the territories. They each
recognized parts of the other’s claims, and announced their intentions to come
up with a long-term plan to resolve the dispute. But few fresh ideas were
brought to the negotiating table. Since then, the two leaders have been silent
on the issue.
Eritrea and
Ethiopia
Area of dispute: The entire 620-mile border
between the two nations in the horn of Africa.
Why it matters: When Eritrea declared
independence from Ethiopia in 1993 after a long war, the border between the two
poorest nations in the world was not yet drawn. Fighting broke out again five
years later, leading to massive internal displacement of hundreds of thousands
of refugees. Despite multiple attempts at international mediation, more than
70,000 died before the war ended in 2000.
Current status: As part of the 2000 ceasefire,
Eritrea and Ethiopia asked arbitrators in The Hague to draw the border. The
court awarded the most hotly disputed areas to the allegedly repressive regime
of Eritrea, a ruling that Ethiopia (which has powerful Western allies) refused
to accept. The United Nations dispatched thousands of peacekeepers to the area
who remain there today, observing the violent skirmishes that occasionally break
out. There is no resolution in sight. Eritrea walked out of border talks in
June, and many fear that full-fledged war could break out again.