Ownership Of Islands Research Articles

Islands and archipelagos of Vietnam in the East sea in the process of economic - social development and national security defense

Islands and archipelagos of Vietnam in the East Sea play an important role in the process of economic development and national security defense. With over 3,000 sea islands located in waters of Vietnam, they are classified into three groups based on the distance between the mainland and Vietnamese waters. As we have seen, under International Law, ownership of small islands without inhabitants or in unlivable condition is not because of natural resources over these islands but rather a large extent of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surrounding them. Because of this reason, ownership of these islands is a great concern for many countries around the East Sea in particular and others in the world in general. This article presents an overview of islands and archipelagos of Vietnam in the East Sea, identifies the important role of these sea island groups in terms of geo-economic and geo-political aspects as well as shares some personal suggestions on possible solutions to sustainable cooperation in economic development and national security defense given the context of territorial sovereignty disputes over islands and archipelagos in the East Sea.

The East China Sea Disputes: History, Status, and Ways Forward

The dispute over ownership of islands, maritime boundaries, jurisdiction, perhaps as much as 100 billion barrels of oil equivalent, and other nonliving and living marine resources in the East China Sea continues to bedevil China-Japan relations. Historical and cultural factors, such as the legacy of World War II and burgeoning nationalism, are significant factors in the dispute. Indeed, the dispute seems to have become a contest between national identities. The approach to the issue has been a political dance by the two countries: one step forward, two steps back. In this article I explain the East China Sea dispute, explore its effect on China-Japan relations, and suggest ways forward.

Kuwaiti ownership of Warba and Bubiyan Islands

The islands of Warba and Bubiyan, lying on the head of the Arabian Gulf, emerged as strategically the most important sites at the beginning of this century owing to their location and the Ottoman designs on them. The islands once again drew the world's attention when on 2 August 1990 Iraq occupied Kuwait, including these two vital islands. The subsequent media campaign for handing over these islands to Iraq in return for an eventual withdrawal from Kuwait demand an historical investigation into the actual ownership of these two islands. This article is an attempt to discuss the factors that led to the Kuwaiti claims to the islands against the background of the proposed extension of the Baghdad railway project to the head of the Gulf. Kuwait's struggle for the ownership of these islands became a reality when in 1913 the Anglo-Ottoman Convention was signed and the Ottoman government renounced its claims on the country following the end of the First World War, which paved the way for a recognized boundary line between Iraq and Kuwait in 1923 and the reconfirmation of the said boundary in 1932 in the exchange of letters between the two countries.

FOCUS ON CHINA : JURISDICTIONAL CLAIMS, CURRENT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT

China has made extensive claims to the offshore resources in the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea and the South China Sea. In the East China Sea, China claims sovereignty over the entire continental shelf. South Korea, Japan and Taiwan also claim seabed rights on the continental shelf. These claims overlap particularly in the prospective oil-bearing area west of the Okinawa Trough. The relevant principles of international law advanced by these countries in support of their respective claims are also examined. The disputes involve a complex mix of political, economic, legal, historical and cultural factors. In the South China Sea the disputes mainly concern the ownership of islands as distinct from competing claims to the continental shelf in the East China Sea. The most significant of these disputes is between China and Vietnam and particularly concerns the Parace and Spratly Islands.The People's Republic of China is determined to become a major world oil producer. The technology and huge finance required to achieve this objective must be obtained by co-operating with foreign sources. In order to co-ordinate this activity, the Chinese have established a complex petroleum administration. Examination of China's recent production history and ambitions demonstrates the need for China to seek foreign assistance to obtain production targets. China has recently concluded geophysical agreements with foreign entities in eight offshore areas. In addition, it has concluded an ambitious exploration/development agreement with Japan National Oil Corporation. The experience of industry in dealing with Chinese authorities with special emphasis on negotiating techniques is briefly described.