Territory
Tibet

Outside students of the history of international law, few may have even heard of the word "suzerainty" when British Foreign Secretary David Miliband denounced its use in relation to UK's formal position on the territorial status of Tibet, saying:

"Our recognition of China's 'special position' in Tibet developed from the outdated concept of suzerainty. Some have used this to cast doubt on the aims we are pursuing and to claim that we are denying Chinese sovereignty over a large part of its own territory. We have made clear to the Chinese Government, and publicly, that we do not support Tibetan independence. Like every other EU member state, and the United States, we regard Tibet as part of the People's Republic of China."