Territory of Shaoyu
Shaoyu Сааувихк щāу 哨域州 | |
|---|---|
Proposed Monsilvan state | |
 Flag | |
 Map of Monsilva with Shaoyu highlighted | |
| Country |  Monsilva |
| Population | |
| • Total | TBD |
| Time zone | AMT+13 (Monsilvan Eastern Time, MET) (proposed) |
| ISO 3166 code | MS-SHA (proposed) |
Shaoyu is a proposed Monsilvan state that would consist of the entirety of Shaoyu Island (Akvatika Island). The proposal for Monsilvan administration over the island has existed since not long after the beginning of the Zloveshchiyan administration of island in 1825 during the Monsilvan Civil War. However, during the Kingdom of Monsilva, Shaoyu was not a common point of discussion, it only became so after the establishment of the Monsilvan Republic in 1978. The movement to establish Shaoyu as a fifteenth state of Monsilva is also officially seen as the "Plan B option" for the Shaoyu Indpendence Movement, which wishes to make the island an independent nation.
The state proposal itself came alongside the beginning of Monsilvan federalization in 1983, with the establishment of Monsilva's first 10 states. In 1984, Monsilva added 4 new states, and was at this time that Shaoyu was considered as a fifth addition. The main issue with this, of course, is that Monsilva does not administer the island, and hasn't since 1825. Although Zloveshchiy's administration was never formally agreed upon, it took place almost 200 years ago, and was taken in discussion between two regimes which both haven't existed for almost as many years.
Support for Monsilvan administration of the island has rapidly increased over the past 40 years, with a majority of Monsilvans believing that Shaoyu should be administered by Monsilva as a fifteenth state, as well as many foreign governments have informally endorsed Monsilva's possible claim over the island. The proposed state idea shot up in popularity in 2018 after the RSSI Act, which technically gave Shaoyu Island ten representatives in the Legislative Assembly. Although these representatives could only discuss on issues relating to the island and could not vote, they were considered to be the biggest step Monsilva has taken towards claiming the island as its own since Zloveshchiy occupied it.
In 2023, newly elected Monsilvan Prime Minister, Lin Yao-tang overwhelmingly passed a legislation through the Parliament of Monsilva which declared Shaoyu Island as Monsilvan territory. Although the government has stated that the island cannot yet be declared as a state until Monsilva is able to establish an administration there, this is the closest the state of Shaoyu has ever come into existence.
Contents
Referendums and pollings
Shaoyunese people poll
In 1987, 1999, 2008 and 2022, polls amongst many Shaoyunese people living in Monsilva were conducted in order to, first find whether they called it "Shaoyu" (哨域) or "Akvatika", and also to find whether they believed Shaoyu should be: a part of Monsilva; independent; or remain a part of Zloveshchiy.
The results were:
- In 1987, out of the 749 people polled:
- 94% say "Shaoyu", 5% say both, and 1% say "Akvatika"
- 78% said they think the island should be a part of Monsilva; 5% said it should be independent; 8% said it should remain as part of Zloveshchiy; and 9% said they don't know
- In 1999, out of the 998 people polled:
- 95% say "Shaoyu", 4% say both, and 1% say "Akvatika"
- 76% said they think the island should be a part of Monsilva; 4% said it should be independent; 7% said it should remain as part of Zloveshchiy; and 13% said they don't know
- In 2008, out of the 1006 people polled:
- 95% say "Shaoyu", 4% say both, and 1% say "Akvatika"
- 82% said they think the island should be a part of Monsilva; 2% said it should be independent; 6% said it should remain as part of Zloveshchiy; and 10% said they don't know
- In 2022, out of the 2490 people polled:
- 98% say "Shaoyu", 1% say both, and 1% say "Akvatika"
- 86% said they think the island should be a part of Monsilva; 1% said it should be independent; 1% said it should remain as part of Zloveshchiy; and 12% said they don't know
RSSI Act 2018 referendum
During the discussion and voting process for the RSSI Act 2018, which added representation for the island's former and de jure current residents into the Legislative Assembly, a referendum was held organized by Monsilva's largest polling company, with permission from the federal government, asking the entire voting population whether they believe Shaoyu Island should be a part of Monsilva or not. The results by county are displayed below (note that these are Monsilva's counties in 2018, they have since changed since May 2023):
The results showed that out of the 58% of the voting population that voted, the vast majority were in approval of Monsilva's possible administration of the island. This was found in most rural or suburban areas of Monsilva. Lower percentages of voters approving a possible administration were found in the cities, with two counties, one in Wodai, and one in Amking, having under 50% of voters saying they would like to see Shaoyu Island under Monsilvan administration.
Proposed island referendum
Multiple times since the establishment of the Monsilvan Republic in 1978, an island-wide referendum has been proposed which would ask the residents of Akvatika Island if they wish to remain a part of Zloveshchiy or if they wish to unify with Monsilva. However, no such referendum has ever been held, mainly due to the controversial politics behind asking the Zloveshchiyan government to hold one, and also due to the unlikely scenario that the country would willingly hold the referendum.
In 2023, however, the FDP has added to its policy that it will find a non-violent way to hold a referendum or poll on the island if it is government, even if the Zloveshchiyan government doesn't want them to.
