Topic A: India/Pakistan Border Disputes
The arbitrary borders drawn up by British officials during the partition of India remained a problem long after the colonial forces left. Pakistan claims the region due to its majority Muslim population, while India claims it due to the leadership of Kashmir wishing to join India. War broke out between the newly independent Pakistan and India over control over the disputed territory of Kashmir in 1947. The UN mediated a ceasefire line in 1949, serving as the de-facto border until the India-Pakistan War of 1971. China never recognized the boundary drawn up by British authorities, and continues to occupy and control territory claimed by India. A plebiscite to decide the official boundaries between India and Pakistan was never held, and it remains disputed between the three countries to this day. SPECPOL aims to prevent escalation of this conflict and maintain the relative peace between the involved parties.
Topic B: Territorial Disputes in the South China Sea
The South China Sea is home to more than 250 islands, many of which are uninhabited or have very low populations, including islands, atolls, cays, shoafs, reefs, and seamounts. The bodies of land and their surrounding areas are claimed by a host of countries, namely the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of China, the Republic of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Republic of the Philippines, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Each of these countries have claimed control of one or more islands and their associated aquatic territories. In accordance with international law, the first 12 nautical miles from a state’s shores are considered its territorial sea, over which the state in question has full sovereignty. The 200 nautical miles beyond the territorial sea are considered to be the state’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf, an area over which the state has exclusive rights for managing economic activities such as fishing, drilling, and shipping. The main concern with these disputed territories is trade. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) estimates that approximately 70% of the global trade by value, or $5.3 trillion worth of goods is transported through the South China Sea each year. Whichever nation controls the sea effectively controls trade through it. Most recently, China has claimed much of the region and began an aggressive island building campaign, including arming some as military bases. It is SPECPOL’s responsibility to maintain peace and resolve issues of decolonization and peacekeeping. The committee should focus on fairly laying out the South China Sea, with an emphasis on economic and political impact. The actions within the South China Sea can have serious effects on trade across the world.
Meet your Dias!
Nora is a freshman at UConn, studying business data analysis. In high school, she participated in the MUNBU and EuroSima conferences. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her friends and she also loves watching movies and listen to music. rvw24001@uconn.edu
Andie is a freshman Allied Health student from Orange, CT. She joined Model UN because she enjoys participating in high school, and because she is passionate about global issues. In her free time she likes to spend time with friends and family, travel, and learn new things. andie.napolitano@uconn.edu
We also want to thank Colman Tokar for his contributions to the background.