Geographic Names and FIPS 10 Digraph Codes:

Countries, Dependencies, and Areas of Special Sovereignty

Quick Reference

As of 15 September 2001

Notes

1. With the establishment of diplomatic relations with China on January 1, 1979, the US Government recognized the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China and acknowledged the Chinese position that there is only one China and that Taiwan is part of China. Taiwan is claimed by both the Government of the People's Republic of China and the authorities on Taiwan and is administered by the authorities on Taiwan.
2. In 1950, the Israel Parliament proclaimed Jerusalem as the capital. The US, like most other countries that have embassies in Israel, maintains its Embassy in Tel Aviv.

Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty

Notes:

1. Antarctica consists of the territory south of 60 degrees south latitude. This area includes claims by Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom, the legal status of which remains in suspense under the terms of the Antarctic Treaty of 1959. The United States recognizes no claims to Antarctica.
2. Chagos Archipelago (including Diego Garcia).
3. Dependent territory of the United Kingdom (also claimed by Argentina).
4. "French Southern and Antarctic Lands" includes lle Amsterdam, lle Saint-Paul, lles Crozet, and lles Kerguelen in the southern Indian Ocean, along with the French-claimed sector of Antarctica, "Terre Adelie" (see note 1).
5. The Department of Guadeloupe includes the nearby islands of Marie-Galante and La Desirade and lles des Saintes, as well as Saint Barthelemy and the northern three fifths of Saint Martin (the rest of which belongs to Netherlands Antilles).
6. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is a semi-autonomous entity that exists pursuant to international agreement and that maintains its own government apart from the People's Republic of China.
7. Netherlands Antilles comprises two groupings of islands: Curacao and Bonaire are located off the coast of Venezuela; Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten (the Dutch two-fifths of the island of Saint Martin) lie 800 km to the north.
8. Under the Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration on the Question of Macau signed in 1987, Macau reverted to Chinese control on December 20, 1999. It is now a semi-autonomous entity that exists pursuant to international agreement and maintains its own government apart from the People's Republic of China.
9. South China Sea islands occupied by China, but claimed by Vietnam.
10. Administered from Reunion. (These islands are claimed by Madagascar; Tromelin Island is also claimed by Mauritius and Seychelles.)
11. The territory of Saint Helena includes the island group of Tristan da Cunha; Saint Helena also administers Ascension Island.
12. South China Sea islands claimed in entirety by China and Vietnam and in part by the Philippines and Malaysia; each of these states occupies some part of the islands.
13. Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement; permanent status to be determined through further negotiation.
14. Temporarily administered by the United Nations.