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.

Current barriers

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. The 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 the 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.

UN Buffer Zone in Cyprus

India

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

Israel

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 Line

During 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:

Morocco

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, Derry, 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.

Spain

The European Union and Spain have constructed barriers between the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla and Morocco to prevent illegal immigration and smuggling.

A 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 barrier

United 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.

Kuwait/Iraq Separation barrier

United 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 States–Mexico barrier