Territories That Countries (Maybe) Shouldn't Have

▶ In this video I talk about territories that countries maybe shouldn't have. Not necessarily defending they should lose them, but opening the door to understand why they have it and whether or not that ownership is questionable; either because of strange borders, status as distant domains, or the existence of specific national identities that would prefer being independent or part of another country. Looking into examples such as Tibet, in China; Kurdistan, in Iraq; Guantánamo Bay in Cuba, but controlled by the United States; Western Papua which is ruled by Indonesia; Cabinda, Angola's disconnected exclave; Ceuta, Melilla and the other Plazas de Soberania that Spain controls in Morocco; Gibraltar, the UK's overseas dominion in the Iberian Peninsula; as well as the Finnish / Swedish Åland Islands.
▶ TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Intro
00:39 Tibet (China)
02:40 Kurdistan (Iraq)
03:24 Guantánamo (USA)
04:17 Western Papua (Indonesia)
05:14 Cabinda (Angola)
06:09 Ceuta & Melilla (Spain)
07:28 Gibraltar (UK)
08:40 Åland Islands (Finland)
09:47 Summary
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[@General.Knowledge]

*Any other territories you think a country shouldn't have?*

[@jacktam7673]

East Turkistan, South Mongolia, Manchuria, Hong Kong, Macau. PS: Taiwan has already been an independent country and should not be taken into consideration.

[@IntensifyingSting2001]

Transylvania, Western Sahara

[@sevenup1293]

Syberia Russia

[@ergoblaze]

Hawaii, and the many American military outposts. The French outposts in Africa, where they still pay France for "protection"

[@Titus921]

I think Ezequibo region in Guayana would be a good topic. Also Dominican Republic gave 8% of its territory to Haiti including the region of La Hincha that belong to Haiti now. It was not even purchase they just gave it away because of political deals.

[@Elvenpath1337]

General Knowledge giving up on his ability to visit China, half the Middle East, and Indonesia for our sakes. What a legend.

[@paulinalevina9690]

Who wants to visit those countrys anyways? China banned half the apps, Middle East is the impersonation of human rights violation (do you hear me, Iran and Saudi-Arabia?) and civil war (Syria? Hello?) and Indonesia... who cares?

[@Computment]

He is currently on 13 watchlists and if He goes missing we know why

[@General.Knowledge]

You're welcome 🤝

[@rizkyadiyanto7922]

​@@General.Knowledgewhy you dont include hawai?

[@aluisious]

@@rizkyadiyanto7922 If you're going to include Hawaii, why not include the entire United States?

[@Palum101]

My man doesn`t want to Travel nomore-

[@ProximaCentauri5.5]

lmao

[@jst4572]

Why does the CCP insist on calling things peaceful when we know it’s not. Be upfront. You wanted Tibet and you took it because you wanted it. Not to liberate a people who liked their government.

[@gots0359]

because it doesnt sell for general public. When you hear in school "Our invasion of Tibet of 1951" you might feel ashamed of your country, instead of "Peaceful addition of Tibet into China". Same with other shit. Special military operation in Ukraine, democratisation of Lybia/Iraq, etc. etc.

[@isaacbowman1927]

Because the CIA was funding paramilitary groups in Tibet, probably to invade, was also keeping the Dalai lama on a payroll to keep quiet about it. Tibet was a peasant society where 80% of people were illiterate and about 99% of the wealth was held by a few wealthy landowners Edit: correction- illiteracy rate in Tibet before the Chinese takeover was 95%

[@ToniMcKhan]

The same reason when US steal other countries' natural resources, they call it spreading democracy and freedom.

[@YoungOneYT]

CCP: 🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑

[@lynxfresh5214]

It's called "control of information" the more you restrict the population's access to information from different perspectives, the easier it is to control them and the more dependent they become on the state thus making "freedom of information" unappealing. Pretty effective tbh.

[@damiano-ou9ge]

Hello i am kurdish, honestly as long as the iraqi goverment dosent discriminate against us kurds and is actually a competent goverment i would be completely fine with us staying as part of iraq, right now our leadership (kurdish politicians to be exact) arent exactly the best of people and dont care about their people, so if the iraqi goverment proves to care more about us than our own goverment then i rather stay with them

[@chiarosuburekeni9325]

They’ve already discriminated against you. How many thousands of kurds have they gassed and otherwise exterminated? You young people need to grow a spine. You should not ever forgive the Iraqi government

[@KLENDEY]

@@chiarosuburekeni9325 Kinda true, but you can't blame it someone who has nothing to do with it. Saddam Hussein (For example) Killed many kurds. But that doesn't mean that the Iraqi government is bad as well.

[@damiano-ou9ge]

@@chiarosuburekeni9325 mate our own goverment isnt exactly a saint, they are also dictators.

[@bigdaddyeddy1252]

@@damiano-ou9ge That’s a wrong way to think bro. Since they have no protective power in the Middle East, Kurds need to develop their own state as a save harbor from their toxic neighbors, as the past (to much of a list) and the present (Daesh, Turkey in general, Ba’ath Party in Syria and Iraq) has taught us.

[@Jack_today]

@@chiarosuburekeni9325 but these are different politicians? The people controlling Iraq now are different people and should not be treated like the same entity as those before then

[@9delta988]

The case of Western Sahara is heart breaking. Annexed and colonised by Marocco but nobody cares...

[@fhirvhdyg5gjyefhitzaphgbiu748]

It was moroccan before Spain occupied.

[@RK-cj4oc]

​@@fhirvhdyg5gjyefhitzaphgbiu748So? Hoe does that change that its current people do not see themselves as Morrocan?

[@leodomingox]

I was recently there, most people are actually in favor of being Marocan

[@RK-cj4oc]

@@leodomingox Were you in the Morrocan controlled part or 50% of the territory The Marrocan army cannot even enter because it is controlled by the natives?

[@_braileanul]

​@@leodomingoxmost people there are colonists from morocco

[@sotirismitzolis5171]

The Canary islands weren't deserted upon setlement.

[@Mcat-What]

I'm assuming he thought they were uninhabited, because The Azores and Madeira (the archipelagos governed by Portugal) were uninhabited, and he's also Portuguese.

[@tobio1988]

Thanks for pointing that out. I was going to write a little „But people lived there when the Spanish arrived!“ rant.

[@aleksandarvil5718]

ALSO Cabo Verde islands were uninhabited until Portuguese arrived and settled there.

[@johnhemphill1938]

Kurdistan should be independent, ever since World War I this was promised and they pose no threat to others if they get some freedom

[@igorlopes7589]

The fact the KRG doesn't support the assyrians means that at least the leadership of iraqi kurds are very hypocrite

[@ye5170]

The Arabs after World War 1 were promised 1 unified state across the Middle East. Now its all divided due to Britain and France similar with Kurdistan

[@dimitrismirnoff7735]

Never 🇮🇶

[@ahmetgunes4095]

East Turkestan, Inner Mongolia, Manchuria are also different countries. Historical and ethnical China is the Eastern parts only.

[@user-ol3xf7gd1d]

Almost all larger countries in the world can be divided into smaller pieces, with the UK separating Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and France separating Normandy and Brittany and also.Hokkaido and Okinawa in Japan were not occupied until the 19th century. As for India, in history it was a dozen or so countries that were forcibly formed by Britain into one country. Spain is also composed of Aragon and Castile.let alone the New World.

[@edwardsnowden8821]

says the guy while ignoring the entities of the USA, Australia, Canada etc which where annexed by white people in whole. when every white person there goes back to Europe, china will leave its provinces

[@Al-yw4xj]

Historical and ethnical USA is not exist .

[@kacperfrontczak1257]

@@Al-yw4xj usa is there where people want to be in the usa

[@Al-yw4xj]

@@kacperfrontczak1257 lol they killed the native amerians and call themself americans. If ppl want to be in the usa , they ask you a VISA .

[@Francesco-su7fg]

France still have a lot territories that they shouldn't have

[@TheZett]

So do the Brits, Americans, Turks, Russians and Danish.

[@Al-yw4xj]

All the country should not exit.

[@matiku8886]

@@TheZettwhat Denmark shouldn’t have tho? Greenland is inhabited by Danes.

[@doridore1234]

Yeah, like New Caledonia, whose indigenous ppl have been waging a natl liberation struggle for decades.

[@chaosXP3RT]

This is comment section is gonna be full of people saying "The US shouldn't have Hawaii or Alaska or Puerto Rico or Texas or...."

[@mapache-ehcapam]

With reason, because this question is nonsensical if we make exceptions.

[@PolnocMapping]

@@mapache-ehcapam The majority of Texans tho certainly wants to remain in USA

[@lynxfresh5214]

Being humanity's most influential and powerful nation often draws the ugly eyes of envy (despite millions around the world wanting to migrate to the USA). Hawaii is fair game for a critical eye though (was forcibly annexed by a nation that claimed to be against imperialism and for "freedom") and ofc how the USA got all those regions in the south with Spanish names.

[@aum1083]

The US shouldn't have most of its territories, as they were stolen from the native population.

[@chaosXP3RT]

@@lynxfresh5214 I don't agree with everything you've said. I don't agree that Hawaii is fair game for criticism, because once you start there, it is easy to unravel it all. The Spanish-American War was just as an imperialistic. If we nitpick too much though, the US would not exist at all. The US took not just a few states from Mexico but nearly everything from California to Colorado to Texas, affecting about 8-9 states overall. What matters now is the will of the current inhabitants of those states, and the vast majority do not want independence. (And most countries today are made from the same methods of conquest and assimilation, anyways). The US has many flaws, but as the preamble of the US Constitution starts, "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union...", our goal has always been to become a better country that strives towards our founding values.

[@angellopezbravosculptor]

In the context of Spanish history, it's crucial to recognize that Ceuta, Melilla, and the Canary Islands are as much a part of Spain as any mainland province. These territories have been Spanish long before the current concept of nations like Morocco was even conceived. Ceuta and Melilla have been under Spanish rule since the 15th century, predating the establishment of Morocco as a state by two centuries. These cities are fully integrated into Spain’s administrative framework, treated just like any other province, with representatives in the national parliament and subject to the same laws as the rest of the country. Similarly, the Canary Islands were annexed by the Crown of Castile in the 15th century, also well before Morocco's national formation. Today, they enjoy autonomy within Spain, having their own government and legislative powers, much like any other autonomous community in Spain. The situation of Gibraltar adds another layer to Spain’s complex territorial history. Seized by the British during the War of Spanish Succession, Gibraltar remains under British control despite being geographically part of the Iberian Peninsula. This is in stark contrast to Ceuta, Melilla, and the Canary Islands, which have consistently been governed by Spain. Regarding the term "colonies," it’s misleading when applied to Spain’s historical territories. During its imperial era, Spain organized its overseas domains into viceroyalties and captaincies general, which were integral parts of the kingdom, with the same rights and responsibilities as any province in mainland Spain. Thus, calling these places "colonies" does not accurately reflect their status within the Spanish Empire. It’s vital to understand the enduring connection of Ceuta, Melilla, and the Canary Islands to Spain. Their historical, cultural, and administrative ties to the country affirm their status as undeniable parts of the Spanish nation, dispelling any notion of them being mere transient holdings.

[@archstanton6102]

Tell you what, the British will give you Gibraltar bqck when you give up your African territory?

[@angellopezbravosculptor]

@@archstanton6102 The point is that there is no territory to return, the Spanish provinces in North Africa have not been taken from Morocco, or from other states. Ceuta chose to remain under Spanish sovereignty in 1640, despite its Portuguese past, while Melilla was incorporated to Castile in 1497 (it was taken without opposition and rebuilt), long before the constitution of the modern Moroccan state in 1956. These facts underline that Ceuta and Melilla have maintained an administrative and political continuity with Spain that predates Morocco's existence as a modern nation. In contrast, Gibraltar was captured by British forces in 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession and formally ceded to Britain by the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. Unlike Ceuta and Melilla, whose Spanish sovereignty predates the formation of Morocco as a modern state, Gibraltar was obtained by conquest and its cession was stipulated by international treaty. I think the difference in how the two territories have been integrated is quite clear.

[@bearlytamedmodels]

If geographical location doesn't matter for Ceuta and Melilla, then why is "despite being geographically part of the Iberian Peninsula" of any importance for Gibraltar? Seemingly it's the historical, cultural, and administrative ties that matter... Which, in Gibraltars case, those ties are to Britain.

[@lost_porkchop]

Ceuta was not Spanish since the fifteenth century. That was Portuguese blood that was spilled for it.

[@menara2109]

yap yap yap Morocco was literally established in the 700's so what's your point? you literally denied the existence of the Idrissid Sultanate, Almoravids, Almohads and Marinids

[@darriendastar3941]

For what could have been a pretty contentious topic, you provided a well balanced and excelently researched short guide. It was very impressive..Thank you for the time you took to make it - and well done.

[@arthurlanzoni2647]

What about american indigenous nations?

[@unclerustica7335]

Which one?

[@arthurlanzoni2647]

@@unclerustica7335 like all of them? I"ll mention some of my region: Puri, Krenak, Pataxó, Xakriabá, Guarani...

[@kacperfrontczak1257]

yeah and if we go back far enough everyone should give back everyone to some dead tribe, so perhaps let's stop blaming each other for the wars of our ancestors.

[@doridore1234]

@@kacperfrontczak1257nice way to deflect from the crimes of your country

[@kacperfrontczak1257]

@@doridore1234 wtf im polish?

[@gabilipogabilipo2739]

There is a similar story but a one not too many people now and speak about. It is about a Croatian controlled peninsula called Istra that was never really Croatian. For most of its history it belonged to the Italians and even to the Austrians. Even today there is a very strong Italian minority in the whole peninsula and everything is in two languages - Croatian and Italian. I am from Croatian and have been to Istra many times and it really does remind of Italy.

[@user-hs7hw6hq7w]

If istra to Italy, then divide Bosnia to croatian and Serbian half. With the amount of non bosniac in Bosnia it feels more wrong to have Bosnia to exist, than Belgium.

[@evanschemenauer1356]

Here's three suggestions if you do a part 2. Point Roberts, the NorthWest Angle and St. Pierre

[@shanabrown9360]

St. Pierre as in St. Pierre and Miquelon?

[@lastmatix]

You forgot Kaliningrad, just to complete the list of countries you won't be able to travel to. Would that then be divided between Poland and Lithuania, given to Germany (for old times sake) or become independent?

[@koperekhabsburdzki43]

Kaliningrad (Or Konisberg, or Królewiec, or Kraloviec jk) is really sad and, for me, tragic case - because what happened to it is same fate as indigous peoples of Americas: Firstly, Indigous people of Baltic tribes "Prussia" got eradicated culturaly by Germans in Middle ages, then after WW2 Germans got deported and killed by Russians witch made this land as there colony: with destruction of original architecture and culture.

[@jarrodyuki7081]

​@@koperekhabsburdzki43 kaliningrad konigsberg!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ye5170]

I feel like the Kaliningrad dispute has no ground because Russia offered it to Poland Lithuania and Germany following their independence from the Soviet Union and they all declined.

[@Zyragonn]

@@ye5170 when did they offered it exactly?

[@quan-uo5ws]

​@@Zyragonnafter collapse of USSR Russia offered kaliningrad to Germany in the 90s but they refused since it was russian majority region

[@SimplifiedSam64]

It is highly ignorant to say that the Plazas de soberania shouldn’t belong to spain. They have been Spanish for centuries and are culturally and linguistically Spanish, and have no desire to join Morocco. Just because it looks weird on a map doesn’t mean it’s any less Spanish

[@itsrin868]

that's why china needs to hurry up and culturally replace the tibetans so they can make the same argument

[@alexbacon-rz2ih]

Agreed - the exact same justification for UK keeping Gibraltar.

[@morenauer]

Also, bear in mind: for centuries, whoever controlled the Iberian peninsula also controlled the northern bit of what now is Morocco. This goes back for centuries and centuries and centuries. The current situation, derived from the loss of Tetouan and the rest of northern Morocco, is the anomaly. It makes no sense that a nation would not keep full control of both bits of such a narrow strait

[@kingace6186]

The Spanish Empire is dead. Give it a rest.

[@notyourdaddy2148]

in that case then it’s okay for the UK to keep gibraltar :)

[@EmmaWargh]

As a Swedish speaking Finn not from Åland I would be very sad to see Åland go. I feel that it'd be even harder to protect our language rights in a scenario where Åland is no longer part of Finland. Also, if Åland left Finland because of language, why not Ostrobothnia as well? It's got a small majority of Swedish speakers

[@AnonymousBesserwisser]

As a finnish speaking finn from Pirkanmaa i couldn't care less. If swedes ever wanted Åland then we should just sell it to them. Ålanders are so arrogant towards ethnic finns anyway so they wouldn't be missed.

[@Tingletonttu]

protect from who?

[@netsong2239]

I'd like to add that Åland is geographically very connected to mainland Finland as a part of the archipelago sea. The islands between mainland Finland and Fasta Åland are packed together super densely. Cutting the archipelago in half with an international border would propably cause a lot problems. Culturally, though, maybe the Ålanders don't really see themselves as Finland-Swedes and are more of a group of their own. I'm not sure but that's the idea I've gotten. Despite of this all of the archipelago, both Finnish and Ålandish sides, are very Swedish speaking which would make having a border going through the archipelago even stranger.

[@Tingletonttu]

@@netsong2239 The border between Sweden and Finland is a little more than a golf course anyway.

[@mozax8118]

I know that you've done a full video on it, but I would also like to include the Southern Cameroon.

[@SergioSP-kc8bd]

The comparison that can be made between Gibraltar and Ceuta/Melilla has caught my attention. If they voted in Ceuta and Melilla and it came out that they wanted to continue being Spain, wouldn't Morocco have the right to say anything? to compare with Gibraltar (I think that just as Morocco has the right to complain, so does Spain). By the way, the Treaty of Utrecht cedes ownership over the city, castle, port, fortresses and defense, it does not cede ownership over the territory. It must also be clarified that Gibraltar has repeatedly failed to comply with the conditions of the agreement, extending itself further and further (expanding the land border, building an "airport", constructing new buildings towards the sea, claiming waters that are not its own, etc.). I understand that these videos try to simplify a lot but you always have to take more information into account. I say this to make the situation clear, in any case I consider that Gibraltar and Ceuta and Melilla are fine as they are. I simply want to clarify that they are not the same situation, although people like to believe that they are and that is simplifying it to the point of absurdity. Just like calling everything colonies without valuing the characteristics.

[@RobertIIIdeOutremer]

It is called peaceful liberation because the Tibetan government agreed to negotiate with the Communists after the Battle of Chamdo, and the result was that the Tibetan delegation accepted most of the demands made by the Chinese government, and the Seventeen Point Agreement was reached.

[@TheRatOnFire_]

"after the Battle of Chamdo" "Peaceful" hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[@RobertIIIdeOutremer]

@@TheRatOnFire_ CPC refers to all land acquired during the civil war that was not captured by the PLA but surrendered before that as peacefully liberated, such as Beijing. the PLA also fought only one battle with the Tibetan army, the Battle of Chamdo. Even Chamdo was not Tibet's dominion when it first claimed independence but was gained later by invading Sichuan's dominion.

[@RobertIIIdeOutremer]

@@TheRatOnFire_ If Tibet cannot even be considered peacefully liberated, then all the land gained in the civil war can only be considered as the result of a military victory. Then none of these peaceful surrenders of CPC cities or warlord forces would have to be given any preferential treatment or compensation by the CPC. In reality the CPC did not liquidate most of the warlords who stayed out of politics after surrendering, even during the Cultural Revolution

[@kacperfrontczak1257]

you probably think what is happening in turkestan is good too ?

[@RobertIIIdeOutremer]

@@kacperfrontczak1257 Not great, but much better than the racial vendettas of the past. The Xinjiang issue is a long story, when Deng Xiaoping reformed the area it was Wang Zhen's sphere of influence so it didn't change much. Unlike most of the mainland, Xinjiang is ruled in a way that is closer to a military government and is very repressive. Its internal military and police are exceptionally corrupt, and while in other parts of the country you don't have to worry about the police intentionally seeking to blackmail you, in Xinjiang it's quite possible

[@jaska145]

Åland people would not want to be part of Sweden, In Sweden it would be just a one Swedish town and very little control over themself. Now they are much higher autonomy. So high that very few people in Åland support independence either.

[@AmericanBoi1776_]

I love your intro, it’s bussin

[@General.Knowledge]

Thanks!

[@nauridea]

The word “bussin” refers to food and is a synonym of delicious, an intro can’t be “bussin”

[@StageRight123]

@@nauridea You've clearly never listened to Young M.C.

[@AmericanBoi1776_]

@@naurideaI’m super sory 😢

[@AmericanBoi1776_]

@@StageRight123I sorry

[@kingace6186]

Very bold General Knowledge. I salute your integrity.

[@michaelowino228]

Good video.

[@General.Knowledge]

Thank you!

[@jlm3744]

Puerto Rico(USA) We are a different country with our own history, culture, and Spanish is the dominant language. All those referendums that say we want statehood are total BS, they are non-binding and have low turnout, its really like 30% that want statehood, and they are just a loud minority. Statehood will never happen and it never should, there's way to many obstacles blocking it from happening, and if somehow it did happen it would be detrimental to both the US and Puerto Rico financially, politically, and culturally.

[@L0KUST1]

Partial Puerto Rican here, I agree.

[@Kevon420]

Add Hawaii to that too. It’s too bad because before the USA annexed Hawaii it was a lot more self sufficient.

[@jlm3744]

@Kevon420 That's right. It was a kingdom before the US came along. Then a bunch of corporations started doing business on the island, formed an alliance, did a couple against the monarchy, then the US made it into a territory. Then over the years it was exploited for military and business purposes, and more Non-Hawaiian Americans moved in outnumbered the native Hawaiians, then they made it a state after WW2. Lucky with Puerto Rico we are still dominated by native Puerto Ricans and the push for statehood really isn't insanely popular. All three options Independence, statehood, and remain a commenwealth are all evenly divided with commenwealth I see having the most support. Sadly though since the statehooders have pushed out referendums and they have control of both the governors seat and Resident Commissioner, they have been able to lie and make the world believe that Puerto Ricans unanimously want statehood, which is far from the truth.

[@z0phi3l]

The only thing we would gain as a State is voting for President, PR is a State by all other definitions, and the current official status has caused most of our problems over the decades

[@jlm3744]

@z0phi3l I know right. But sadly, to some Puerto Ricans, their mentality is stuck in the last century. They believe Independence will automatically lead to communism and that voting for the US president is a big deal.

[@Giga16216]

Man you are so close to 1 million subs.

[@777gpower]

Forgot Hawaii

[@ye5170]

If we say Hawaii then we have to mention Guam, Puerto Rico, and basically the entire US in general

[@777gpower]

@@ye5170 then do that

[@doridore1234]

@@ye5170Correct!!

[@oddmott7653]

I actually have two antique moneybank globes form the 1960's; one displays Tibet as it's own sovereign nation (the rest of the map looks more or less the same to the standard), meanwhile the second one is slightly older and has stuff like Rhodesia, the Belgian Congo, & French West Africa (very outdated colonial states in Africa), but no sovereign Tibet! It's very strange :/

[@ultimatestuff7111]

There’s one in my school library that shows sinkiang, east and west Germany and Tibet

[@prion42]

When i was a kid my globe had T R US T T E R R I T O R Y O F T H E P A C I F I C

[@MrPbhuh]

5:20 there is so much more to say about west papua like how the Dutch kept it nominally till 1960, years after Indonesian independence, and it was the UN who forced the Dutch to give it up.

[@stevejohnson3357]

This is an extremely important problem and it looms over a lot of places. Frequently, leaders of independence movements will claim that international law requires existing boundaries must be respected when moving from possession to independent. But they will turn around and violate that rule when it suits them so there really isn't a law. Indonesia is a great example. New Guinee and the Moluccas have so little in common with Acheh or Java that shouldn't be in the same state even though they were all Dutch colonial possessions.

[@kingace6186]

Whataboutism

[@rizkyadiyanto7922]

have you been to molucca or meet someone from there?

[@bearlytamedmodels]

@@kingace6186 how

[@kacperfrontczak1257]

@@kingace6186 muh "whataboutism" is a tu quoque fallacy.

[@alfathhandidarmawan8482]

I come from Indonesia. I will explain why West Papua belongs to Indonesia. At the time of Indonesian independence, the independence proposal stated "The Dutch colonial territories in Southeast Asia fully belong to Indonesia". At that time, Indonesia was united at the beginning of its independence. But the Dutch colonized again, at that time the Dutch made an agreement not to carry out continued colonization. Indonesia and the Netherlands create a state. Where each region has its own president "United State of Indonesia" (except West Papua, there is the Dutch headquarters). However, the Indonesian people want everything to be one. And the State of Indonesia was re-formed as the "Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia or NKRI)" Then the Indonesian people urged the government to follow the independence proposal that had been made at the beginning of independence. The Dutch colonies in Southeast Asia were the property of Indonesian independence. That's when the Indonesian Army, which already had strength and weapons assistance from other countries, tried to seize West Papua so that it could be fully controlled by Indonesia. So a war broke out in West Papua between Indonesia and the Netherlands. Because the war was dramatic and quite long, the United Nations finally intervened. The United Nations makes a ceasefire proposal. The proposal also contains general elections for the people of West Papua to choose, whether they want complete independence or join Indonesia. And as a result of the general election, it turned out that the people of West Papua chose to join Indonesia. As I have said, West Papua has belonged to Indonesia from the start. Because after Japan surrendered, the first President of Indonesia, Mr. Soekarno already said. "Remove Dutch colonialism from Southeast Asian lands, and the former Dutch colonies are the rightful property of Indonesian independence" Indonesia is a country that has a nationalist spirit. In fact, until now Indonesian people cannot speak Dutch Even though Indonesia was colonized by the Dutch for more than 350 years.

[@cceider]

It's insane to me how a country who got independence from another country then refuses to let a part of it's territory become independent.

[@ye5170]

Thats like 90% of countries in the world to be honest. And nobody has a ground to enforce it like lets say the Us (who has tried to enforce self determination) kept enforcing it now. The Countries could simply reply with 3 things 1. Native Americans 2. Annexing Hawaii 3. Puerto Rico

[@alexd6393]

Countries hate to lost a part of their territory. They all against. Expect Canada and Uk who were able to organise a referendum for Quebec and Scotland, it is almost impossible to manage this kind of fair decision from the people. (And we could debate on how fair were these referendum, like pressure from UE to the Scottish, to help UK and the NO). Even in United Nations, there is no rules in case of independency request from a region. Nothing exists. Easy to explain, as UN is “nation” first, so they all want to keep their territory. And, everyone say: better to keep the frontier as they are, because that will avoid war. Fun fact: 1- the frontiers always move and they will continue to move 2- they often move by war action So, to have a doctrine in UN to solve these problems by negotiation, referendum, rules, could be better than the only doctrine today: “A state is one and not divisible, it is none constitutionally right to even think a part of a state could leave”

[@jamesandharry977]

Northern Ireland should be in this video

[@hunterross3622]

Why? Northern Ireland identifies as British, the people made and continue to make their choice. Same as Scotland and the Falklands.

[@user-md3wm7vu1f]

​@@hunterross3622 theres still bit of a problem though because usually the reason why the inhabitants identify with the conquering country is because they were originally settlers who came from that country after expelling the original population. imagine canada invaded a piece of the US, kicked out all the americans and replaced them with canadians, and then held a referendum there to prove why the territory should belong to canada now.

[@hunterross3622]

@user-md3wm7vu1f I mean yeah... 200 years down the line when the majority of the living population identify as Canadian it seems fair that they should remain Canadian. I'm not saying the Ulster Plantations were morally okay but hundreds of years later we must respect the will of those who do still live on the land. Unless of course you're advocating for sending all white people in America back to Europe, all Asians to Asia and all blacks to Africa and leaving it for just the natives?

[@user-md3wm7vu1f]

@@hunterross3622 i wouldnt advocate for sending anyone back after such a length of time, but theres a fair argument for returning ownership over the land or EEZ in some cases (especially when the invading country is gaining significant economic benefit from the land and is more wealthy to begin with). you could offer dual citizenship or something for the people living there

[@hunterross3622]

@user-md3wm7vu1f dual citizenship is already offered to all people from Northern Ireland and I believe the Republic of Ireland as well actually. They choose to remain within the UK regardless. Its been hundreds of years, the morality of Ulster plantations does not factor into the people who are alive now and what their intentions are.

[@dudethejesus9834]

Great video, as usual! I can say that Russia deserves an entire separate video, ~70% of its modern territory is colonised land: Mordovia, Ural, Siberia, Tatarstan & Bashqortostan, Chukotka, Yugra and so on, the list is VERY long. There's many different nations living in Russia and they deserve to be more well known!

[@macrowolf7]

You being Portuguese, I was surprised by the fact that you didn't mention the case of Olivença 😅

[@assumptacs197]

Catalonia (spain and france)

[@azarisLP]

Somehow managed to miss the Kuril Islands and Kaliningrad...

[@andrewascher5888]

I had heard that the ferocity with which Finland defended Åland during WW2 had helped push local opinion towards staying a part of Finland.

[@lopezelgacela]

Ceuta and Melilla are Spanish cities even before Morocco existed. So its impossible for Morocco ti say they want that cities back when they have never owned them. If I remember correctly, Ceuta and Mellia are Spanish territories since 2 centuries before US got its independence. What you should have include in the video is WESTERN SAHARA. Saharauis have been kicked out of their land by Morocco. Most of them live in a refugees camp near the border of their stolen country.

[@donalmcgurran5420]

Northern Ireland in the UK should go to the Republic of Ireland

[@saagisharon8595]

except the people don't want to

[@Silveirias]

@@saagisharon8595 The native Irish people do want to.

[@gogledhol]

It literally has the right under international law to do so. Tell Michelle O'Neill to demand a referendum if that's what you want.

[@Psyk60]

@@Silveirias But note that the non-native British people have been there for centuries. I get that their ancestors were invaders, but realistically you have to take their views into account, otherwise it would set a bad precedent. Both the UK and Ireland have agreed that all people from Northern Ireland get a say.

[@aziraphaleangel]

@@Psyk60 And interestingly enough the people of the Republic of Ireland may not support it. There was a poll a few years ago that found a majority would reject unification if it led to an increased tax burden (which it almost certainly would). From a historical justice perspective unification makes total sense, but from a hard self-interest point of view I think a lot of people in the Republic might think that the status quo (a successful economy, an open border, economic integration and mostly no more violence, while also not having to subsidise the North) is just fine.

[@SebastianEncina]

Have you spoke about Brunei yet?

[@inwalters]

Yeah, everybody forgets Brunei used to own Sarawak.

[@MrFalk]

I like the new intro

[@AleksiJoutsen-lb1gk]

I want to point out about the Åland that iirc Sweden also stopped caring because they were worried about Länsipohja/Västerbotten/West Bothnia of Northern Sweden. The area in question had a large Finnish speaking population (and even today has a lot of Finnish speakers. According to Sweden they speak Meänkieli, a different language, which sounds suspiciously similar to Finnish) and by getting Åland they could cause people from Västerbotten to want to join Finland. So they opted to keep Västerbotten due to its resources and much larger population base over Åland which doesn't really have anything valuable outside of beautiful environment.

[@joaopedrodantas2147]

French Guyana,Quebec and Greenland should be in this video

[@lenny5774]

Why Quebec?

[@ivanmargosdoesEverything.2923]

@@MohamedRynx8 No no FRENCH Guyana (it’s different from Guyana)

[@ProximaCentauri5.5]

@@ivanmargosdoesEverything.2923 its guiana

[@matiku8886]

French Guyana would have no interest in becoming independent as now it’s a part of France and EU which makes it rich.

[@kuroazrem5376]

The Canary Islands were not deserted when the Castillians arrived. They were inhabited by native Guanche people, who are amazigh in origin, and which were exterminated by the Castillians. So.. yeah.

[@kingace6186]

Exactly.

[@_Painted]

Genetic studies on Canary Islanders found that the modern inhabitants have significant Guanche ancestry. Something like 30% ancestry, so not entirely wiped out. It is still sad what happened to them, though after being assimilated by the Spanish, the Guanches’ descendants actually propagated throughout the Spanish colonies, so maybe becoming Spanish was good for their survival in the long run.

[@mastrey]

Guanches continue to be

[@SergioSP-kc8bd]

There is one thing that always catches my attention, which is that all countries are always portrayed as doing the same thing. When Spain conquered, it did not exterminate as much as it sold, most of the time it mixed with the natives, and that is easy to see by looking at the areas conquered by Spain in those centuries. Genetics does not lie, if there had been that extermination, why are there so many people with Guanche DNA in the Canary Islands today? Not all colonizations are the same.

[@josueveguilla9069]

​@@SergioSP-kc8bdI know, right.

[@chootanf]

Though your rationale on the Papuan matter is a bit weird (since the same logic should've been applied to other Indonesian islands itself, which are incredibly diverse as well), interestingly the first Vice President of Indonesia Muhammad Hatta had also stated that he thought Papua shouldn't be included as part of Indonesia due to great differences in culture and race, which was obviously objected by Soekarno.

[@constantincristianandrei859]

can you please provide the soundtrack used in videos?

[@omerfaruksardas6675]

You are swiming in dangerous waters

[@ProximaCentauri5.5]

he fr be playin with fire

[@notyourdaddy2148]

all of the americas should be indigenous nations

[@kacperfrontczak1257]

that would require a genocide though? have we not learned that hate begats hate?

[@notyourdaddy2148]

@@kacperfrontczak1257 no, it would require decolonisation.

[@kacperfrontczak1257]

@@notyourdaddy2148 sending milions of people who were born in their countries to far away lands that can't support them is genocide.

[@doridore1234]

@@notyourdaddy2148lmfao he really thought he was cooking 😂

[@FTN_Ale]

@@notyourdaddy2148 which would require removing literally everyone from the americas

[@JoseFerreira-vj3lq]

Parabéns ao autor deste video! Nunca tenhas medo de falares do que queres e nunca te vergas ao medo!

[@paiwandibrahim3978]

As a kurd every kurds want an independent kurdistan our whole existence is for that in our culture anyone who says otherwise is ignorant abt us and we deserve a separate country we r not a turk or a persian or an arab.

[@jordi6795]

Tibet should be free and independent again, Kurdistan deserves their own independent and sovereign state, Aland it's clear that should belong to Sweden and in the case of Papua, it seems that it should be one single political entity at first sight (like it should be Ireland as well for example), but not sure of its reality. It is ridiculous the small bits that Spain has in Africa, Ceuta and Melilla might be two well stablished Spanish cities, and the Canary Islands too, but the rest is more logical to return/belong to Morocco.

[@Silveirias]

As a Finn, I'd gladly give Åland to Sweden. It's geographically part of Finland, though (the land there is still rising due to glacial rebound, so the islands will start to merge into continental Finland far in the future). The original residents (long ago) were Finns, but they were either chased off by Swedish settlers or assimilated.

[@ye5170]

As an Iraqi the only reason I don’t want Kurdish independence in Iraq is because Turkiye and Iran have a deal that if there is Kurdish independence They will invade which means not only Kurds they will invade but Iraq too and Iraq has suffered enough through the 21st century we are finally just getting back on our feet and becoming a safe nation. The Kurdish people are safe and honestly our government treats them well and gives them good amount of autonomy its just scary to think what could happen with Turkiye and Iran if they invade either Iraq or Syria when the Kurds proclaim their independence

[@alexd6393]

I don’t understand how people “knows” what should be or not independent… this yes, this no… What is your rule? What make you decide yes or no? For me the only rules should be the will of the people. Of course which people, when, how, to take this will, are complicated questions… but the best answer to: “the region X should be independent?” Is I don’t know, what people living there think. And the answer should never be: What language the speak, how long this region is part of the country, how far it is…

[@jordi6795]

​@@alexd6393 I think it's quite evident, and so the rule(s) also, and it consist of the following: First of all a cultural/linguistic continuum, most of current/modern states follow, or try to achieve, this same principle, historic nations/peoples already have this trait. An historic legitimacy, in this regard, the example of Tibet is quite clear: it doesn't existed a "treaty of annexation" or "treaty of incorporation" nor a referendum or a national political statement by the legitimate government of incorporation, a treaty that would imply an abandonment of the own culture, language, laws, political parties, institutions, etc, etc., any agreement, nothing. Instead there's a total lack of fairness. And of course, the will of the people of such lands, should that will would had been taken into account, if would have lead to a treaty, an agreement, a referendum, etc. In the case of Gibraltar some referendums had been held in this regard, and the result had been quite clear: they consider themselves British and want to remain as such, but the reason is quite simple, the population is culturally British nowadays... The case of Aland is a bit different, it's belonging to Finland was imposed upon them...

[@samuelsstuffyt]

In terms of Tibet, as much as the 'Free Tibet' discourse is popular amongst Westerners who don't quiet know anything about Tibet beyond that, it should be mentioned that Tibet was an extremely backwards State before 1951. It was an absolute monarchy and I think was the last remaining State to still enslave the majority of its entire population under Serfdom and a Feudal System. Tibet was not a good place to live before the PRC retook it and ultimately, Tibetans are still oppressed today, but the common Tibetan is an innumerable amount of times more free than they would've been as Serfs and Slaves before 1951. It was also one of the most impoverished and isolated nations in the world.

[@SpiritWolf1966]

I enjoy all of General Knowledge videos

[@vlackfrog]

Ceuta's EEZ touch the rest of Spain EEZ. Ceuta and Melilla are closer to Spain than Corsica and Sardinia to France and Italy. Closer than most of the Egean islands are to Greece, closer than Shetlan to the UK, closer than Socotra to Yemen, closer than Hawaii, Galapagos or Pascua islands to the USA, Ecuador or Chile. There are countries divided by seas and no one ask about them. What about Malaysia with a part on an island divided into 3 states? And what about the UK in N. Ireland? And what about Turkiye and its european continental part? Or Alaska and the USA? Ceuta and Melilla had been ruled from the different nations of the Iberian Peninsula for centuries. And I'm not just talking about the Christian Kingdoms. The Caliphate of Cordoba (Muslim Kingdom) ruled those two cities. The Emirate of Granada held Ceuta too until it was conquered by the portuguese. The Visigothic Kingdom of Toledo ruled Ceuta too. Even with the Roman Empire and the Bizantine Empire, Ceuta had closer ties to the peninsula than to the rest of Africa.

[@nicolocla8983]

Leaving my mark before the Chinese bots come angrily arguing on points that weren't made in the video because they haven't watched it.

[@MrMorningx1]

how about other people making their own defense? spanish? Turks? they bot too?

[@nicolocla8983]

@@MrMorningx1 No they don't have farm bots to my knowledge. Russians and Chinese are pro at it though.

[@RobertIIIdeOutremer]

The so-called Simla Convention, which made Tibet a self-governing state but recognized China as its suzerainty, was refused by the Chinese delegates who refused to formally sign it at the time and left. When the Chinese representative refused to sign, the Tibetan government unilaterally declared that China had renounced its suzerainty and that Tibet was therefore a completely independent state, and Britain turned to recognizing Tibet's independence in exchange for Tibet's recognition of the McMahon Line in order to gain access to southern Tibet. Therefore, from the standpoint of both the Chinese government and the Chinese people, Tibet is not a legally independent state, but merely an autonomous government within the British sphere of influence.

[@kingace6186]

Is that the broken logic that is taught in China. Tibet belong to the Qing. The Qing died. The Republic of China was a new country that is completely different from the Qing Dynasty. None of this matters anyways because the ROC was fighting a civil war against the communists which resulted in the PROC, yet another brand new country. Mao had no legitimate claim on Tibet, but he had an army and he used to conquer a sovereign country of Buddhist monks.

[@RobertIIIdeOutremer]

@@kingace6186 All while retaining the complete territorial integrity of the lands of the five races-Manchu, Han, Mongol, Hui, and Tibetan-which shall combine to form a great Republic of China.

[@RobertIIIdeOutremer]

@@kingace6186 It's the Imperial Edict of the Abdication of the Qing Emperor.ROC inherited all realm of Qing

[@RobertIIIdeOutremer]

@@kingace6186 It's true that it's controversial whether the PRC can succeed the ROC, but it's not controversial that the ROC succeeds the Qing dynasty itself, even if the ROC actually consists of two periods, the Beiyang and the Kuomintang.

[@RobertIIIdeOutremer]

@@kingace6186 And also,if you really think that ROC is not the heir to the Qing dynasty, what is the issue that the Simla Convention talks about?

[@janhula2534]

What about West Sahara and Morroco?

[@matthewf6465]

6:20 No, but yes. Unlike Madeira and the Azores the Canaries where not deserted when the Spaniards took them they were inhabited by the guanche, berber people who where gradually "integarted" through the centuries after the normans enstablished the kingdom of the Canaries. But I suppose it counts since there's no one of them left...

[@bnbcraft6666]

You should've put Nagorno-Karabahk

[@Silveirias]

Ethnically Armenian, should be therefore be part of Armenia.

[@larryalvares1369]

@@Silveiriasbut didn’t all ethnic Armenians leave already (or rather, forced to leave)?

[@SilverMontegiu]

He didn't mention anything controversial aside from Kurdistan really. Including Nagorno-Karabahk would've turned the comments into hell on earth

[@bnbcraft6666]

@larryalvares1369 according to the internet only a couple dozen stayed in nargorno-karabak, hopefully someday they'll be allowed to return 😔

[@sevenup1293]

Where is russia? Syberia for example is not russian at all, more than that the culture of nationalities who live there, is way different from any european country including russia. Idk why you didn't include russia to be honest, because this country tried to russify other cultures, for example bashkirs, kazakhs, ukrainians, bellarussians and many other nationalities. Many territories inside russia aren't actually russian culturaly and are rather colonies than core territories. Don't take it personally though. Your channel is doing a great work after all.

[@Silveirias]

Yeah, most of "russia" is not russia. It's mostly just stolen land.

[@ye5170]

I mean the same goes for USA and Canada (Under British Rule) It was just different people groups who eventually became more and more like their owners. If he did talk about Russia it would be with Kaliningrad

[@user-jt3fu2gu2l]

Why not France release its part of South America or Bretagne then? Maybe people living in Siberia are content living in Russia instead being left on their own with almost no sustainable agriculture or sea connection, leaving us landlocked? Honestly, you people dare to speak in the name of my people is sickening me. First deal with your own problems than start to lecture others

[@user-jt3fu2gu2l]

@@ye5170 we at least have our own governments on the subject level where we are a majority with a level of autonomy to it, where’s I don’t see a single state in US or Canada where it’s the same, only reservations which to me seems like a segregation with extra steps

[@Silveirias]

@@user-jt3fu2gu2l The Siberians are neing fucked over by Moscow. These could be rich alnds, but russia is hoarding all the money and leaving the indigenous peole with nothing. And actively replaces the original population. That has been happening in russia controlled territories for centuries.

[@TriteHexagon]

I'm SHOCKED you didn't talk about Olivença lol

[@AllieBorse]

I don't entirely understand why the gibraltarians wouldn't want dual sovereignty, but I suppose considering it was pre-brexit it wouldn't have mattered

[@rpgbb]

The Tibet map is the current Tibetan Autonomous Region but Tibet is bigger than that. Chinese split with Ando Province, called Qinhai in Chinese and they added the Western part of Tibet to the Yunnan and Sichuan provinces. China not only shouldn’t have Tibet but West Turkmenistan, Inner Mongolia, Manchuria, Yunnan, Guangdong, Guangxi and Taiwan. If one study Chinese history, one can see Chinese have committed genocide so many times. Whole people were totally wiped out and forced to integrate. Manchuria even lost its name, now it’s called Dongbei, the Northeastern Region. When many people say Taiwan is not part of China, they don’t realise that the people called Taiwanese are also invaders. The first Han settlers went to Taiwan to work for the Dutch tin mines. The native population is minority now, totally wiped out. Same for Hong Kong, Singapore, they were British Free Ports, overran by Chinese, taken over by the triads. Now 75% of new immigrants in Singapore must be racially Chinese. I would recommend to read Jack London’s short story “The Unparalleled Invasion”, really prophetic, it’s available online

[@Tingletonttu]

There are plenty of other areas and people in Finland other than Åland that speak Swedish. Language alone is not an argument.

[@williamsmeds1368]

I am from Finland and I love Åland. Probaly the friendliest people in the country.

[@saagisharon8595]

I love how you didn't mention Israel-Palestine knowing that would get you demonetized

[@GetRidOfCivilAssetForfeiture]

It’s best to leave the one alone.

[@Jack_today]

As a Brit, I think Gibraltar should be in the U.K. because that’s what they want, I don’t get why “cause it’s near spain” is an excuse because then Portugal would be Spanish! I also don’t think the Spanish cities in Africa want to be Moroccan so it wouldn’t make sense to just give them away against their will. Both areas are in the country they want so both should be left alone by the rest of the world.

[@lastmatix]

If only the people in Gibraltar could have had as much a choice whether to stay in the EU...

[@Silveirias]

It's absolutely ridiculous for the UK to claim Gibraltar. It's just another colonial relic.

[@Hijiri_MIRACHION]

@@Silveirias It may be a colonial relic, but Gibraltar itself seems to want to stay that way.

[@cuidadocomomatheus]

​@@Silveirias Why thou?

[@TheOswards306]

What about Southern Mecadonia (Greece), Kashmiri (India), the kuril Islands (Russia), French Guiana (France), Byzantium (Turkey), Greenland (Denmark), Jersey (UK), and Sinai Peninsula (Egypt)?

[@bjdon99]

The argument that something doesn’t look right on a map is a reason to change it doesn’t hold weight. The Falklands come to mind as another big one. Maybe the U.S. owning g Guam which should be part of the Marianas Islands is another case?

[@MrG.13]

You always talk about Kurdistan and that it should be an independent country, but you must know that Kurdistan and the Kurdish people have always belonged to Iran, and the cities that exist today in the fake maps of the fake country of Kurdistan have always been and will be part of Iran . If there was supposed to be a Kurdistan country, it would have been created right after the First World War, but there must have been a reason why it did not exist, and the reason was that today these ideas are causing unrest in the Middle East and the countries of Turkey and Iran.

[@kurdekibedin1347]

Kurds are not “Iranians” and never were. Iranians were created in the early 16th century by a Kurdish dynasty, the Safavids. We have nothing to do with you.

[@ye5170]

The Kurdish people’s were never Persian. Right now the Kurds thrive the most in Iraq and suffer in all other nations and history the Kurds were apart of Islamic Caliphates which weren’t considered Arab but rather Muslim

[@prion42]

Kurdistan doesn't exist because the British and French didn't draw it.

[@renatoe9648]

Ceuta and Melilla are spanish founded and ran cities for centuries and they are just accross a narrow stretch of water it total ly makes sence for Spain to keep them and that is what the population wants. You make it sounds much worse than it is

[@miguellopes7627]

Not Spanish founded, they were Portuguese before

[@fhirvhdyg5gjyefhitzaphgbiu748]

They exist since the phoenicians and the carthaginians came to the region.

[@DeathDoesNotScareMe]

Make a video on unification of punjab

[@zurafar6954]

Hope to see a part 2 with for example South Tyrol which culture and language is much closer to Austria than Italy

[@vetarlittorf1807]

China has improved every aspect of Tibet though. Before Mao took over, Tibet was a backwater serfdom where people lived in poverty and even slavery.

[@kacperfrontczak1257]

and after mao it was the same except now the tibetans are getting colonized. i bet you think what china is doing to the ughurs justified ccp bot.

[@doridore1234]

Yes but understanding this would require having a modicum of historical knowledge which is way to much to ask of most westerners

[@fedexqwerty3743]

By the same logic so did Britain’s to Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria. Justifying colonialism to own the libs

[@L0KUST1]

What about Puerto Rico, Golan Heights, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Guam, Biafra, Artsakh, Baluchistan, Pashtustan, Akrotiri & Dhekelia, Northern Cyprus, Donetsk, Luhansk, Siberia, Karelia, Kola, Uyghuristan, Bougainville, Northern Territory (Australia), Galicia (Spanish), Galicia (Ukraine), Eskadi, Catalonia, Srpska, Hong Kong, and US Indian Reservations?

[@togerboy5396]

Because maybe the people living there don’t want their current nations to be balkanised and end in genocide. Maybe they just want more autonomy.

[@pygmyrhino8049]

Galicia belongs to Ukraine rightfully

[@RK-cj4oc]

Scotland,Wales are seperate nation that are willingly part of the united kingdom. There have been multiple fair democratic election that all ended with the majority voting to stay.

[@schs1977]

Puerto Rico has voted several times whether to pursue US statehood, independence or remain a US territory. Each time remaining a territory has won.

[@L0KUST1]

@@togerboy5396 Almost all of the places he listed in the video do not want independence.

[@lenny5774]

Alaska, Greenland, St. Pierre & Miquelon, the Faroe Islands

[@ericp0012]

I believe in the right to self-determination and freedom of association for all people(s).

[@richardhackett1605]

Bees

[@alienbeef0421]

E 🗿

[@jordandino417]

???

[@robertdalley7450]

Surprised he didn't mention the falklands

[@aigeneratedwauigi2696]

Because the Falklands are British

[@turbocheese1000]

the falklands are populated by the british and have always been + multiple referendums show that they want to stay a british overseas colony like the last one, which ended in 99,8% in favor of staying under the british

[@flavtlano9033]

​@@turbocheese1000 have always been not really. At the start there was some competition between France, the UK and Spain but nowadays yes.

[@SergioSP-kc8bd]

​@@turbocheese1000It is logical that people who descend from the British vote to be part of the British hahaha. Voting in that situation is absurd, as with Gibraltar.

[@leirumf5476]

UK referendums where they ask UK citizens if they feel like UK citizens shouldn't equate to them having legitimate authority over the land. Specially if they forcefully kicked and/or prevent actual locals from settling.

[@LawpickingLocksmith]

There are a lot more areas where the wrong culture is in the wrong country. I was in Goa and surprised how long the Portuguese managed to hold on until forced to leave. Australia spent a fortune getting Timor Leste back. Sometimes autonomy works, sometimes the corruption ends in war. Even Switzerland had cultural issues between French speaking catholics and German speaking protestants. They created a new state but the fine details are still worked on over 30 years on. Sometimes money talks and the gras is always greener on the other side.

[@KirkukisTurkmen]

The Kurdistan region being "safest and most developed" is just a rumor. Its a dubai like mess no actual human development effort has been made compared to the bordering areas, trust me as a kirkuki ive visited it and the only stuff i see is large towers.

[@KLENDEY]

Im from sulaymanyah, and its pretty safe. I have visited krikuk aswell. And it wasn't the best. And thats because the iraqi government wants the city. As there is oil there. And it has impacted the people and society. Try visiting sulaymnyah some day, and see if it is the same. Btw Kirkuk isnt a 100% kurdish city.

[@Rhythm412]

​@@KLENDEYwhere are you guys from? And how did you like Iraq or Kurdistan specifically?

[@KirkukisTurkmen]

@@KLENDEY i have visited sulaymaniyah It also has plenty of towers and stuff but does have some nature in the city Also the government doesnt care about the oil anymore because kirkuk is now more dependent on agriculture

[@KirkukisTurkmen]

@@Rhythm412 hes from the city of sulaymaniyah, which is really close to my city Although sulaymaniyah is kurdish and my city Iraqi. Also what do you mean by the last question?

[@KLENDEY]

@@Rhythm412 I am Kurdish, from sulyaumanyah as i said. So of course i like Kurdistan.

[@freddytang2128]

If china shouldn’t have Tibet then should USA go back to the borders of the 13 colonies? I doubt any of the Native American tribes consented to American takeover of their lands

[@prion42]

There is a notable difference. Tibet is still majority Tibetan.

[@prion42]

Also even the thirteen colonies came to exist by genocide

[@alexd6393]

@@prion42 do u want to push China to change that? (They didn’t wait for you by the way)

[@JD-787]

I don’t know much about the history but I know the Orkney Islands in the UK used to belong to Norway but were given as a Royal Wedding dowry. But they are now looking into how to return back to Norway

[@fabovondestory]

Königsberg 💀

[@ivorycxxxx]

insert generic fell off comment here

[@zoltanperei4789]

Don't forget the Székelys (Szeklers) in Transylvania and the Hungarians is South Slovakia!

[@user-pk3iv5wi2q]

A lot of north Iraq is Assyrian not as much kurdish as shown

[@kurdekibedin1347]

no, its not. On the contrary: there are censuses and maps from 100 years ago - the so-called Assyrians were not as strongly represented in Kurdistan as they are today, only in Kurdista their numbers increased because a lot of people fled and migrated to Kurdistan, mostly from Nineveh but even from places like Hakkari (todays Turkey) and Urmia (Iran)

[@Lockfly]

The Assyrian population in Iraq is unfortunately very very small it's only the size of a small town 200k people meanwhile the Kurdish population in Iraq is 8million

[@ye5170]

The Assyrian population is small which is sad as an Iraqi. It had decreased a lot over the years

[@xaelly]

ah yes monthly reminder how author likes to play separatism

[@General.Knowledge]

I would say self determination rather than separatism

[@rizkyadiyanto7922]

divide and conquer. i bet he is from somewhere in europe.

[@edwardsnowden8821]

​@@General.Knowledgeif these countries you mentioned did like the Anglo Saxons and flooded all these regions with the biggest ethnic groups just like it happened in Australia, new Zealand, USA, Argentina, Canada, Taiwan etc while systematically wiping out the indigenous population I guess they won't have your smug face talking about carving out their territories.

[@kacperfrontczak1257]

@@edwardsnowden8821 he's portugese

[@edwardsnowden8821]

@@kacperfrontczak1257 don't care

[@airtale8725]

Inner-Mongolia and East-Turkmenistan shouldn't be in China either.

[@Silveirias]

Nor Hong Kong or Macau!

[@ChatGPT_ChatbotTest]

Why? They're Chinese majority and (especially in the case of east turkestan) wouldn't really survive as independent states

[@edwardsnowden8821]

white people should not be in America either as they are all colonists and china has had Xinjiang and inner Mongolia longer than America has existed

[@airtale8725]

@@ChatGPT_ChatbotTest No, they aren't chinese majority, and they have been independent countries and a british colony

[@Silveirias]

@@ChatGPT_ChatbotTest The Han Chinese there are colonisers. This is a common tactic by russia, too. Replace or at least overwhelm the local population with settlers.

[@Macion-sm2ui]

I have no strong opinions about those teritorial disputes, but I believe, that the worst worst way to solve such disputes is by american or international opinion. That usualy only brings even more disputes, as usually people do not know whole situation, genesis of it and simply do not understand both sides, supporting the side that they like more, sometimes even without understanding of them.

[@albevanhanoy]

The inhabitants of a territory are the ones who should decide.

[@alexd6393]

100% But not so easy to apply in real world. What is a territory, how small it can be? Who is an habitants of a territory? You must be there since when? How often you could organise a referendum? What about the big minority who live all their life in a country and now have to change because of a small majority? No easy answer. But for real, this first principle should be recognised by democratic states, and it is not the case… not in us, not in UE… Uk did it with Scotland, Canada with Quebec, but it is very rare on the human history

[@fedemolto]

You forgot about Malvinas

[@wawrzynieckorzen78]

You mean Falklands? Or some other place?

[@chootanf]

Falklands will remain British for the rest of your life

[@kgptzac]

The video's "disclaimer" doesn't hold much water when in all examples you listed, you expressing your opinion that status quo should not be kept. If you don't want your "disclaimer" to sound as disingenuous as it can get, at least present both sides of the argument like you did with Gibraltar. Either you adopt an absolutely neutral standpoint, or you don't. You can't be both.

[@davidreichert9392]

Some people are mentioning some other places that should be on this list, but I disagree as pretty much all of the paces mentioned have the democratic ability to gain independence if they choose to do so.

[@doridore1234]

Can you explain to me the democratic process which would feasibly allow the Hawai'ian people to gain independence if they so desired? Or the people of Puerto Rico?

[@himm.ann.shuu3]

You should cover India's Uttarakhand state, Sikkim state and Darjeeling of West Bengal that should be part of Nepal. In 1816, Our country had signed Sugauli treaty to the British crown not to India. As Bangladesh and Pakistan had their land back, we Nepalese should also get our ancestral land back too. If you observe it properly Uttarakhand's culture is very similar to our Nepali culture but in these few centuries, it has been mixed with north Indian cultures too. While in the east, Darjeeling and Sikkim has a majority of Nepali speaking people too. I think this should be a big part of debate too but we have corrupt leaders, they are busy impressing China and India as well as corrupting all the citizens.

[@zeljkothegreekserb]

Of course Tibet is here, but Scotland, Dhekelia & Akrotiri, Texas and Golan heights aren't, color me surprised.

[@L0KUST1]

Texas should not be independent bud.

[@GromitLover2012]

Texas??? 😭

[@elswick4636]

Scotland had an independence referendum and decided to stay part of the UK. I doubt it would vote the same way again today though

[@RK-cj4oc]

​@@elswick4636To be fair i think by now they would vote to remain again. After Brexit there was unrest but by now that has mostly subsided.

[@gogledhol]

Stop trying to compare Scotland, a fully democratic, mostly self-governing, strong-cultured nation which has already had a referendum on independence and is seeing slumping support for said independence with likes of Tibet which was forcefully annexed, has not had a referendum, and is under direct control from a capital over 1000km away.