Information AboutSuzerain |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT SUZERAINTY | |
| international law | |
| international relations | |
|
Although it is a concept which has existed in a number of historical empires, it is a concept that is very difficult to describe using 20th or 21st Century theories of International Law , in which Sovereignty either exists or does not. While a sovereign nation can agree by treaty to become a Protectorate of a stronger power, modern international law does not recognize any way of making this relationship theoretically irrevocable by the weaker power. CHINA Historically, the Emperor of China saw himself as the emperor of the Entire Civilized World , and diplomatic relations in East Asia were based on the theory that all rulers of the world derived their authority from the Emperor. The degree to which this authority existed in fact changed from dynasty to dynasty. However, even in periods where political power was distributed evenly across several political entities, Chinese political theory recognized only one emperor and asserted that his authority was paramount throughout the entire world. Diplomatic relations with the Chinese emperor were made on the theory of tributary states, although in practice tributary relations would often result in a form of trade under the theory that the emperor in his kindness would reward the tributary state with gifts of equal or greater value. ''See also'' the article " List Of Chinese Tributaries In History ". This system broke down in the 18th and 19th centuries. One way European states attempted to describe the relations between the Qing Dynasty and its outlying regions was in terms of suzerainty, although this did not at all match the traditional Chinese diplomatic theory. The 1895 Treaty Of Shimonoseki , signed between Japan and China, transferred control over Korea from China to Japan on the premise that China exercised suzerainty over Korea. The claims of both the and signed treaties with Great Britain in which Britain recognized Chinese suzerainty over Tibet. However, pro-Tibetan independence supporters argue that suzerainty does not equate with sovereignty and that Tibet therefore should not be part of China. INDIA Sikkim Following India's Independence in 1947 , a treaty signed between the Chogyal and the then Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru gave India suzerainty over Sikkim in exchange for it retaining its independence. This continued until 1975 , when the Sikkimese monarchy was Abrogated in favour of a merger into India. Sikkim is now one of the States Of India . Bhutan Currently India looks after the external, defence, communications, and foreign affairs of Bhutan . This is one of several situations in international politics where two sovereign States agree to have the more powerful administer the defense of the weaker. See also:
SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC After the First Boer War (1880–81), the South African Republic was granted its independence, albeit under British suzerainty. During the Second Boer War (1899–1902), the South African Republic was annexed as the Colony Of The Transvaal , which existed until 1910, when it became the Province of Transvaal in the Union Of South Africa . REFERENCE
SEE ALSO |
|
|