Separation barrier
Separation barriers (separation walls, security fences) are constructed to prevent the movement of people across a certain line or
border or to separate two populations. These structures vary in placement with regard to international borders and
topography. The most famous example of a separation barrier is probably the
Great Wall of China, a series of barriers separating the Empire of
China from
Mongolia and
Manchuria; the most prominent recent example was the
Berlin Wall that separated the
exclave of
West Berlin from the rest of
East Germany during most of the
Cold War era.
People's Republic of China
The
People's Republic of China (PRC) has two
Special Administrative Regions, namely
Hong Kong and
Macau on its southeastern coast. Both of them maintain controlled intra-national borders with the neighbouring
Guangdong Province in
Mainland China.
Identity document is inspected when one crosses the border.
Hong Kong was a
Dependent Territory of the
United Kingdom until its
sovereignty was
handed over to the PRC in 1997, while Macau was a
Special Territory of
Portugual until its soverignty was
handed over to the PRC in 1999. Before the
handovers, the Hong Kong-Guangdong and Macau-Guangdong borders were regarded as
international borders.
Under the principle of "
One Country, Two Systems", the two Special Administrative Regions continue to maintain their own
customs and
immigration policies, which are independent of those in Mainland China after the handovers. Due to differences in the policies between the special administrative regions and the Mainland, the Hong Kong-Guandgong and Macau-Guangdong borders have been maintained in operation after the handovers.
Hong Kong has a border stretching 32 km with the
Shenzhen Special Economic Zone of the Guangdong Province that features fences, thermal image sensors, lights and
closed-circuit television. The border is also patrolled regularly by police. Just south of
Shenzhen River (the geographical delimitation of the border) is a strip of rural land with restricted access, the 28 km²
Closed Area. Currently, the three road border crossings are located at
Sha Tau Kok,
Man Kam To, and
Lok Ma Chau, and a railway and traveller crossing is located at
Lo Wu. The residents of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region are required to have their
Hong Kong ID Cards inspected by the
Hong Kong Immigration Department and their
Home Return Permits inspected by the
Public Security Bureau of Guangdong Province when they cross the border.
Macau has been maintaining a 340-metre controlled border with
Zhuhai City of Guangdong Province with crossing available at the
Border Gate. The border crossing is equipped with 54 counters for travelers and 8 for vehicular traffic. Opened in
1999, the
Lotus Bridge in
Macau supplemented what has been the only border crossing into mainland China through Border Gate. Both border crossings allow access into
Zhuhai.
Cyprus
Turkey has constructed and maintains a 300 km (187 mile) separation barrier along the 1974 Green Line (or ceasefire line) between the Turkish controlled northern one-third and independent southern two-thirds of
Cyprus to separate Turkish and Greek Cypriot populations.
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UN Buffer Zone in CyprusIndia
India is completing a separation barrier between Indian and
Pakistani controlled areas of
Kashmir to prevent infiltration by Pakistani based militants. It is also working on another one surrounding
Bangladesh to prevent smuggling, illegal immigration and possible inflitration by terrorists
*
Indian Kashmir barrier*
Indian Bangladesh barrierIsrael
Israel maintains two separation barriers between
Israeli and
Palestinian population centers with the intention of preventing infiltration by suicide bombers.
*
Israeli Gaza Strip barrier - outside the Gaza Strip parallel to the border with Israel
*
Israeli West Bank barrier - along the border with and inside the West Bank contiguous in parts, and non-contiguous in other parts, with the
Green LineDuring the 1950s and 60s a fortified separation barrier also divided much of
Jerusalem to separate
Jordanian and
Israeli-controlled sectors of the city.
Korea
South Korea has constructed a separation barrier between its territory and
North Korea to obstruct any southward movement by the army of North Korea.The border features:
*
Panmunjeom*
Military Demarcation Line*
Korean Demilitarized Zone*
Korean wallMorocco
Morocco has constructed a separation barrier in
Western Sahara and Morocco to keep the guerrilla fighters of
Polisario out of Morocco and the economically interesting two-thirds of the Western Sahara.
*
Moroccan Wall (also known as the "berm").
Northern Ireland
A series of barriers separate the two communities in Protestant and Catholic neighbourhoods in
Belfast,
Londonderry, and elsewhere in
Northern Ireland (
UK). These are euphemistically known as
peace lines. More have continued to be constructed and expanded since the
Good Friday Agreement. In earlier times, there was the
Pale, a fortified region around Dublin. In theory English settlement was confined to the Pale. Beyond the pale only native Irish lived.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has begun construction of a separation barrier or fence between its territory and
Yemen to prevent the unauthorized movement of people and goods into and out of the Kingdom. It has also called for tenders to build a barrier along its border with Iraq.
*
Saudi Yemen barrier*
Saudi Iraq barrierSpain
The
European Union and
Spain have constructed barriers between the Spanish enclaves of
Ceuta and
Melilla and
Morocco to prevent illegal immigration and smuggling.
*
Ceuta border fence*
Melilla border fenceA
neutral territory exists between
Gibraltar and
Spain. A strip of land of width "600
toises, being more than two cannon shots distance between the British guns and the Spanish guns" would be considered "the neutral ground" stipulated by the
Treaty of Seville in
1729. In
1908 the
British constructed a fence at the British side of the neutral territory. In order not to offend the Spanish, the fence was actually one metre inside British territory. Even though both the
United Kingdom and Spain are part of the
European Union, the border fence is still relevant today since
Gibraltar maintains its
tax haven status. The border crossing is open twenty-four hours a day to facilitate
customs collection by Spain.
Thailand
Thailand plans to build a concrete fence along parts of its border with Malaysia to keep Muslim militants and dual citizens from crossing Thailand's southern border with
Malaysia.
*
Thai-Malay barrierUnited Nations
The
United Nations has constructed a demilitarized zone to stop
Iraq from re-invading
Kuwait; Kuwait plans to install a new separation barrier as well.
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Kuwait/Iraq Separation barrierUnited States
The
United States has constructed a separation barrier along 130 kilometres of
its border with
Mexico to prevent unauthorized immigration into the United States. There is talk in the US Congress of lengthening the barrier, however nothing permanent has been decided.
*
United Statesâ€"Mexico barrier*
Berlin Wall*
Great Wall of China*
Hadrian's Wall*
Offa's Dyke*
Danevirke*
Götavirke*
Defensive walls
*
List of fortifications*
List of walls*
buffer zone*
Security Fences around the World*
Security Fences in
The Atlantic Monthly
