Making an Island/Declaring Independence
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[edit] Independence
If you own land, have a government, and a constant population, you're classed as a nation according to international law. However, you are only recognised as an independent nation when enough current nations agree that you are.
The closest nation is the biggest hurdle. They'll probably think that since they have more, and bigger, weapons than you, that means they can own your island.
If you can get them to accept that it's sovereign, you've got a good chance of success. You might even get their help convincing the rest of the nations to leave your tiny little island nation alone. Treaties are usually mutually beneficial.
Note that nations don't like the idea of new nations sprouting up all over. Not only does it make world politics more confusing, it's not in their interest to recognize new nations, as a new nation would have equivalent rights to these existing nations.
[edit] Avoid aggravating other countries
A good idea is to make sure that your island is placed in international waters before you declare independence. Avoid attention from other countries as your country is probably defenseless against any military and will have only a small population to defend itself.
[edit] Who Owns the Ocean?
The Zones:
- Territorial Sea: 12 nautical miles about your territory, you can do anything you want, most notably harvesting minerals and fishing. Any other countries' ships can pass through without danger, as long as they do not threaten you in any respects. You can regulate other countries' ships' activities here. You can expel other countries' warships, but in peacetime that is considered unnecessary.
- Contiguous Zone: Another 12 miles past the border of the territorial sea, you can enforce your customs, immigration, and sanitation in this area. You can also engage in Hot Pursuit, or chasing lawbreakers.
- Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): You can do any kind of fishing and mineral exploration here. You are trusted to use it wisely. This zone extends as far as 200 nautical miles, making exceptions for countries that are closer together.
- The High Seas: This extends beyond the EEZ, and anyone can do anything here. That is why merchant ships carry guns. The mineral resources over here are for anyone that can extract them.
Note though, that there still exists international laws against piracy. Essentially, if you commit piracy, you can be attacked where ever you may be. Some countries may use this as an excuse to attack you without warning.
[edit] National Defense
Defending your own island against outside forces (for example, pirates) is a tough problem to overcome if you do not have the means. If you have made treaties with other, more powerful nations that require them to aid you if you so ask of them, this may be of great benefit in terms of defense. However, in the case of a small man-made island, the outcome of an attack against your island depends greatly on whether the other nation's forces arrive to your aid on time or not.
You may happen to have the resources to build your own defense force, too. It would be a good idea, firstly, to set up signs around your island to warn outsiders of your existence and your right to defend yourself. Creating a defense force requires, most basically, firepower. Missile launchers, cannons and the like are useful for relatively long-range attacks across the water, however, this may require a strongly built island with enough room to store ammunition and hold up to recoil.
However, even if you have the firepower, the next important thing to have are those who will defend. National defense is not usually a one-man job, and it would be preferable to have more people working in the defense force. This is where having a small population would come in handy.
If you have claimed a sufficient area of territorial waters for your island, it would then be practical to set up mines around your island. However, this may hamper your own transportation on sea if you plan to do so in the future. Having air-transportation (i.e. helicopters, etc.) would not be a problem, though.
Planting mines *may* be against international law.
| Making an island | |
| 1. | Making an Island/Reasons |
| 2. | Making an Island/Methods |
| 3. | Making an Island/Materials |
| 4. | Making an Island/Construction Guides |
| 5. | Making an Island/Plants |
| 6. | Making an Island/Facilities |
| 7. | Making an Island/Moving a Floating Island |
| 8. | Making an Island/Declaring Independence |
| edit | |
