List of historical separatist movements in Asia

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (November 2023)

This is a list of historical separatist movements in Asia. Separatism includes autonomism and secessionism.

Criteria

What is and is not considered an autonomist or secessionist movement is sometimes contentious. Entries on this list must meet three criteria:

They are no longer an active movement with active members.
They are demanded greater autonomy or self-determination for a geographic region (as opposed to personal autonomy).
They were citizens/people of the conflict area and did not come from another country.

Under each region listed is one or more of the following:

De facto state (de facto entity): for unrecognized regions with de facto autonomy.
Proposed state: proposed name for a seceding sovereign state.
Proposed autonomous area: for movements towards greater autonomy for an area but not outright secession.
- De facto autonomous government: for governments with de facto autonomous control over a region.
- Government-in-exile: for a government based outside of the region in question, with or without control.
- Political party (or parties): for political parties involved in a political system to push for autonomy or secession.
- Militant organisation(s): for armed organisations.
- Advocacy group(s): for non-belligerent, non-politically participatory entities.
- Ethnic/ethno-religious/racial/regional/religious group(s).

List

Bangladesh

People: Jumma people
- Political party: Porbotto Chottogram Jonshonghoti Shomiti
- Rebel organisation: Shanti Bahini
- Proposed state: Autonomous Hill Tribes
- Status: Inactive following the 1996 peace treaty between the Government of Bangladesh and the tribal leaders.
People: Bengali Hindus
- Political party: Swadhin Bangabhumi Andolan
- Rebel organisation: Banga Sena
- Proposed State: Bangabhumi

China

Mainland China

De facto state: Chinese Soviet Republic
- Political party: Chinese Communist Party
- Armed organization: Chinese Red Army
Proposed state: People's Republic of China
- Political party: Chinese Communist Party

Outer Mongolia

De facto state: Great Mongolian State
- Political organization: Bogd Khanate
Proposed state: Mongolian People's Republic
- Political party: Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party

Cyprus

Rebel organizations: EOKA, Turkish Resistance Organisation

France (associated territories)

Indochina

Proposed state: Kingdom of Cambodia
- Political organization: Khmer Issarak
Proposed state: Laos
Militant organization: Lao Issara, Pathet Lao
Proposed state: State of Vietnam
- Political organization: Viet Quoc

Mandate of Syria

Political organization: National Bloc

India

People: Sikh
- Militant organisation: Khalistan Liberation Force, Babbar Khalsa, Khalistan Commando Force
- Proposed state: Khalistan
- Status: Separatist movement crushed
People: Tripuri
- Militant organisation: National Liberation Front of Tripura, All Tripura Tiger Force
- Proposed state: Tipperaland
- Status: Separatist movement crushed
People: Garo, Khasi
- Militant organisation: Garo National Liberation Army, Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council
- Proposed state: Garoland, Hynniewtrep
- Status: Separatist movement crushed
People: Bodo
- Militant organisation: National Democratic Front of Boroland
- Proposed state: Boroland
- Status: Separatist groups disbanded, surrender agreement signed with government.
People: Karbi
- Militant organisation: Karbi Longri N.C. Hills Liberation Front, United People's Democratic Solidarity
- Proposed state: Hemprek Kangthim
- Status: Separatist movement crushed. Groups disbanded, surrender agreement signed with government.
People: Dimasa
- Militant organisation: Dima Halam Daogah
- Proposed state: Dimaraji
- Status: Separatist movement crushed. Groups disbanded, surrender agreement signed with government.
People: Tani
- Militant organisation: National Liberation Council of Taniland
- Proposed state: Taniland
- Status: Separatist movement crushed

Indonesia

Aceh

Proposed state: Aceh
- Militant organization: Free Aceh Movement

Iran

Kurdistan

Proposed state: Republic of Mahabad
- Militant organization: Democratic Party of Kurdistan

Iranian Azerbaijan

Proposed state: Azerbaijan People's Government
- Militant organization: Azerbaijani Democratic Party

Khorasan

Proposed state: Autonomous Government of Khorasan
- Militant organization: National Committee of Khorasan(Komitey-e Melli-e Khorasan)

Israel/Palestine

Samaritans in Nablus Governorate, West Bank

Proposed state: Mount Gerizim

Timor

Proposed state: Timor-Leste
- Political party: Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor

Japan

Ezo

De facto state: Republic of Ezo

People: Bengalis (East Pakistanis)
- Political party: Bangladesh Awami League
- Rebel organization: Mukti Bahini
- De facto state: People's Republic of Bangladesh
- Status: Resulted in independence of Bangladesh in 1971 after the Bangladesh Liberation War.

Philippines

Bangsamoro (Mindanao, Sulu Islands, and Palawan)

Proposed state: Bangsamoro Republik
- Political organization: Moro National Liberation Front
- Militant organization: Bangsamoro Armed Forces
Proposed state: Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (originally for independence)
- Political organization: Moro Islamic Liberation Front
- Militant organization: Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces

Proposed state: Federal Republic of Mindanao
- Militant organization: Mindanao People's Democratic Movement
- Advocacy group: Mindanao Independence Movement, Mindanao Freedom Movement

Saudi Arabia

Hejaz

Proposed state: Kingdom of Hejaz (restoration of historical kingdom)
- Political organization: Committee for the Liberation of Arabia

Spain (associated territories)

Spanish East Indies

Philippine archipelago
- Secessionist entities: Katagalugan, Republic of the Philippines, Cantonal Republic of Negros, Republic of Zamboanga
  - Militant organization: Katipunan
  - Society: La Liga Filipina
- Ilocos
  - Secessionist state: Free Ilocos

Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan Tamil people

Proposed state: Tamil Eelam
- Political party: Tamil National Alliance
- Militant organisation: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
- Advocacy groups: Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam, Global Tamil Forum
- Government in exile: Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam

Syria

Syrian Druze

Proposed state: Jabal Druze State
Rebel organization: Jaysh al-Muwahhideen

Turkey

Political party: Armenian Revolutionary Federation, Social Democrat Hunchakian Party, Armenian Democratic Liberal Party (Ramgavar Party)
Rebel organization: Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia

United Kingdom (associated territories)

Burma

Political organization: Dobama Asiayone
Militant organization: Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League, Burma Independence Army, Communist Party of Burma

India

Proposed state: India
- Political party: All India Forward Bloc, Hindustan Socialist Republican Association, Indian National Congress, Communist Party of India, Swaraj Party, Ghadar Party
- Parallel government: Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind
- Rebel organization: Indian National Army

Malaya

Proposed state: Federation of Malaya
Political party: Alliance Party (United Malays National Organisation, Malayan Chinese Association, and Malayan Indian Congress)

Penang

Ethnic groups: Penangites, Penangite Chinese
Proposed state: Penang
Organization: Penang Chamber of Commerce, Penang Straits Chinese British Association, Penang Chinese Town Hall, Penang Chamber of Commerce, Penang Indian Chamber of Commerce, Settlement of Penang Association, Penang Eurasian Association, Penang Muslim Chamber of Commerce