The judgment of the attribution of territorial disputes is a highly complex and sensitive issue, involving multiple dimensions such as international law, history, politics, and national identity. **The international community usually analyzes disputes through the following frameworks and principles, but specific cases often require a comprehensive assessment based on multiple parties' evidence and legal basis.： --- ### 1. **Basic principles of international law** -**Historical basis** (Historical Title)： The claimant needs to provide evidence of continuous and effective jurisdiction over the territory in history, such as ancient documents, maps, administrative records, etc. However, attention should be paid to the applicability of “historical rights” in modern law (for example, the International Court of Justice has a higher standard for determining “historic waters”). -**Actual Control**(Effective Control)： Actual control (such as long-term garrison, administrative management, and civil services) may strengthen sovereignty claims through the “Prescription principle”, but illegal occupation does not produce legal rights (for example, UN Security Council Resolution 242 emphasizes that “territory cannot be acquired through war”). -**Treaties and agreements**： International treaties (such as the Treaty of Westphalia and the Treaty of San Francisco) and bilateral agreements are important foundations, but attention needs to be paid to the legality of the treaty (whether it is forced to be signed) and interpretation disputes. -**National self-determination**(Self-determination)： If the dispute involves indigenous peoples or specific ethnic groups, their right to self-determination may be recognized by the United Nations (such as the independence of East Timor), but the principle of national sovereignty and integrity needs to be balanced. --- ### 2. **International judicial and arbitration cases** -**The judgments of the International Court of Justice (ICJ)** and the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)** are of reference nature, but require the consent of the parties to accept jurisdiction. For example： -**Nicaragua v. Colombia** (2012): Based on historical treaties and actual control, it was determined that some islands belong to Colombia. -**South China Sea Arbitration Case**(2016): Ruled that China's “Nine-dash Line” claim has no basis in international law, but China has not participated in it and refuses to recognize it. -**Limitations**: The enforcement of awards depends on the voluntary state, and political factors may prevail over legal results (such as the Crimea dispute). --- ### 3. **Realpolitik factors** -**Actual control status quo**： If one party steadily controls the disputed territory for a long time (such as Israel's Golan Heights), it may form a “fait accompli”, but international recognition is the key (for example, most countries do not recognize Russia's sovereignty over Crimea). -**The Game of Great Powers and Geopolitics**： The intervention of a powerful country may affect the direction of the dispute (such as the United States' position on the “Four Northern Islands” issue between Japan and Russia). -**International recognition and diplomatic support**： The recognition situation of UN member states and multilateral declarations (such as the ASEAN Consensus on the South China Sea issue) can be used as a reference. --- ### 4. **Specific case analysis framework** If specific disputed areas (such as Diaoyu Islands, Kashmir, Western Sahara, etc.) are provided, they can be further combined： -**Historical documents and archaeological evidence**: Prove the earliest jurisdiction or cultural connection. -**Colonial heritage**: The delimitation agreement of the original colonists (such as the British Treaty on Hong Kong). -**Ethnic distribution and public opinion**: The legitimacy of the results of referendums (such as the Scottish independence referendum). -**Physical geography**: The definition of islands and continental shelves in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). --- ### 5. **Suggestions from authoritative sources of information** -**Official documents of the United Nations**: Resolutions of the Security Council, judgments of the International Court of Justice. -**Academic Research**: Cambridge/Oxford Journal of International Law, Proceedings of the Hague Academy of International Law. -**Government White Paper**: Position papers issued by the disputing party (such as China's "Diaoyu Islands White Paper" and Japan's "Takeshima Claim"). --- ### Summary There is rarely a “black or white” answer to territorial ownership, and it needs to be based on the cross-analysis of law, history and politics. **It is recommended to study specific cases on a case-by-case basis, and give priority to the public information of international judicial institutions and the United Nations**.