Extraterritoriality

**Extraterritoriality** is the state of being exempted from the jurisdiction of local law, usually as the result of diplomatic negotiations. In the New World, this has great significance, especially if the nation is designated as a superpower.

## Definition

Historically on Earth, extraterritoriality was primarily applied to individuals, as jurisdiction was usually claimed on peoples rather than on lands. Extraterritoriality can also be applied to physical places, such as foreign embassies, military bases of foreign countries, or offices of the United Nations. The three most common cases recognized today internationally relate to the persons and belongings of foreign heads of state, the persons and belongings of ambassadors and other diplomats, and ships in international waters.

In the past, pre-modern states generally claimed sovereignty over persons, creating something known as personal jurisdiction. As people move between borders, this led to, in the framework of a territorial jurisdiction, certain persons being under the laws of countries in which they did not reside. Extraterritoriality, in this sense, emerges from the interaction of these two conceptions of jurisdiction, personal and territorial, when laws are applied based on *who* a person is rather than *where* they are.

In the modern day, extraterritoriality can take various forms. Most famous are examples of diplomatic immunity, where diplomats and their belongings do not operate under the laws of their host nations, but rather, under the laws of the diplomat's nation.

Similarly, many nations claim the right to prosecute foreign combatants and violators of human rights under doctrines of universal jurisdiction, irrespective of the nationality of those persons or the place in which the alleged crimes occurred. In maritime law, ships in international waters are governed by the laws of the jurisdiction in which that ship is registered. This can be conceived of as a form of extraterritoriality, where a nation's jurisdiction extends beyond its border. Criminals that hide outside the home country are automatically gain an extraterritorial law since they can't be prosecuted unless an extradition treaty was made between such countries.

In the New World, however, extraterritoriality seems to be an exclusive privilege for nations that are designated as a superpower. As a result, nations that are not recognized as a superpower cannot claim exemption if their citizens commit a crime on foreign soil. Conversely, a citizen of a superpower can commit any crime, even murder on foreign soil, and not be punished by that foreign nation's laws, unless it happens to be another superpower. With the appearance and arrival of Japan and Gra Valkas Empire, and its superior military technology, the other superpower nations realized, that they could no longer hide behind their status and extraterritoriality laws, should they commit any crimes against the Japanese. In the case of GVE prior to New World War, they will simply unleashed their military might against any offending nations that have arrogantly and foolishly provokes and commit crimes against their people by pulverizing their nation into an utter ruin, as shown in their war against the Paganda Kingdom and Leifor that eventually met their pathetic demise.

## Extraterritoriality in the New World

### Third Civilization Area and Outside the Civilized Areas

The former superpower, the Parpaldia Empire, had enjoyed their extraterritoriality laws with the nations they had subjugated and no citizen would fear the consequences, should they commit any crimes in any of the conquered nations. However, this would all come to an end, when Japan appeared. Initially, the Empire would not even consider any diplomatic relations with Japan, since Japan was not recognized as a superpower. Furthermore, the terms of extraterritoriality was neither understood nor recognized by the Japanese. The Empire tried its usual intimidation tactics, claiming extraterritoriality for its citizens, and giving them the right to kill any of Japanese citizens without consequences. This would lead to the Nishinomiyako Massacre and the Japanese-Parpaldian War. The Parpaldia Empire would suffer catastrophic collapse and its status as a superpower would be removed, along with any extraterritoriality laws.

### Second Civilization Area and the Gra Valkas Empire

During the New World War, the nation of Mu would suffer great hardship from the Gra Valkas Empire, after the Battle of Arou. The victorious Gra Valkas army would commit several atrocities in Arou with their commander turning a blind eye to the rape, looting and pillaging. Seeing that Arou was basically Gra Valkas territory, they did not think they would suffer any consequences.

The same thing went for other conquered areas such as Leifor and the Riem Kingdom. The Gra Valkas would force their own laws and commit crimes with no thought whatsoever of any consequences or reprisals.

### First Civilization Area

The Holy Milishial Empire is another superpower that enjoys extraterritoriality but they are well aware not to force such issues nor commit any crimes against the Japanese.

### Japan

Japan neither claims any extraterritoriality nor does it recognize the state from any of the other New World nations, which includes the other superpowers.

Though Japan is not a hostile nation by nature, the other superpower nations such as Mu and the Holy Milishial Empire, dare not to push their luck and commit any crimes against the Japanese, as they fear the consequences of retaliation by Japan. Should anyone commit a crime in Japan and try to hide in his home country, he will not be protected by any extraterritorial laws as Japan does not recognize such laws.