Pratas Islands

  • Contested territories
  • Claimed by China, Taiwan

The Pratas Islands, also known as the Dongsha Islands or Tungsha Islands, are a group of atolls, coral reefs and sea banks. There is only one part that is above sea level: Pratas island. The People’s Republic of China claim them but Taiwan controls them and has declared them part of the Dongsha Atoll National Park. On Pratas island there is a small airport, a shrine, a service station for boats and a library with over 2000 books.

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Northern Cyprus

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (Turkish: Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti), is a de facto state that comprises the northeastern portion of the island of Cyprus. It unilaterally declared independence in 1983, and is recognized only by Turkey. A buffer zone under the control of the United Nations stretches between Northern Cyprus and the rest of the island and divides Nicosia, the island's largest city and capital. Attempts to reach a solution to the Cyprus dispute have been unsuccessful. The Turkish Army maintains a large force in Northern Cyprus.

Jammu & Kashmir

Since 1947, the greater region of Jammu and Kashmir has been embroiled in a territorial dispute between India, Pakistan and China. India control approximately 43% of the land area of the region and 70% of its population, Pakistan controls roughly 37% of the land, while China controls the remaining 20%. Kashmir is widely regarded as the world’s most militarized zone—the region has witnessed three major wars between India and Pakistan, another more limited war between India and China, numerous border skirmishes, high mountainous warfare, an ongoing insurgency, a Hindu exodus and widespread internal civil unrest.

Užupis

Užupis is a small neighborhood in the old part of Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. In 1991 Lithuania broke free from the former Soviet Union and local artists erected a monument for singer Frank Zappa, who they claimed served as an example for the inhabitants of the former satellite state. They went one step further on 1st April, 1997 when the independent Republic of Užupis was declared. “The spirit of Zappa made us see that independence from Moscow was not enough and persuaded us to declare independence from the rest of Vilnius.”