Simon Louie
What makes a vote for secession "illegal"?

Jardine

I'm quoting from this article https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/14/crimean-referendum-illegal-international-law.

"Territory cannot be annexed simply because the people who happen to be living there today want to secede. International law is unambiguous on how countries should decide the fate of disputed territories like Crimea. Countries can acquire territory by discovering uninhabited land, signing a treaty – as with Khrushchev’s transfer of Crimea to Ukraine in 1954 – or occupying an area peacefully over a long period of time. The legal methods for resolving questions of sovereignty are founded on widely recognized principles of international law. These do not include, and have never included, a simple referendum of people living in a contested territory. That is why every successful secessionist movement has founded its claim on legal entitlement to the territory that they seek to “liberate”. Thus the Baltic states argued that they were illegally conquered by the Soviet Union; Tibet says the same about China; and Eritreans fought for decades to reverse their illegal annexation by Ethiopia."

You can't just have a vote and say that this area is now our nation because a number of our speakers want to redraw borders. That's what happened with the Munich agreement. Putin doesn't care about the Russian speakers living there, he's interested in the Crimea's ports.

Hope this helps

The WINNER of this section , today , by the length of the straight is 'Armchair Critic'

Delusional would have run second had it started.

To Simon Louie
So you are an expert on the happenings in the neighborhood of China are you? Please tell me how you get to be such an expert. Throughout history powerful tribes have expanded their borders, however it is only the European Christians that have got on boats and sailed around the world to rape and pillage the natives. So before you start throwing facts around, I suggest that you check the history books.

As for your nonsense about claiming land using International law, I suggest you look at the annexation of New Zealand, Australia, United states, and Canada.
Chris

Simon you need to read beyond the mainstream media. In Ukraine, have you forgotten that the USA's Victoria Nuland destabilised Ukraine and installed their puppet? Also, interesting when George Bush, Sr. was President, rarely heard that he was head of the CIA; be fair now. The US wanted 'regime change' in Syria and supported the rebels; if they 'win' they will divide Syria between Israel, Iraq and Turkey, leaving Assad with area around Damascus. Finally, Russian assertiveness? : which country has 1000+ bases around the world (including Australia), controls the UN, NATO.

So let us accept this expert-advice and assume that the Crimean cessation was indeed illegal? So what?!

Here is a population that doesn't want to live under your regime, whatever be their reasons, yet you believe that you have a right to force them to live under it anyway, citing legalities.

There were times when releasing slaves without permission was also illegal*.

To hell with laws!

FREE TIBET!

["The law also limited manumission, or freeing of slaves. It stated that a master could only free a slave for “meritorious services,” and even then the decision had to be approved by the county court" - http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-newnation/5252 ]