Kuala Lampur, Sept. 13 -- Territorial sovereignty is paramount in international law.

After Article 1 of the United Nations (UN) Charter sets out the purposes of the UN, Article 2 states explicitly that the UN and its Members must act in accordance with the seven principles of the Charter.

The fourth principle prohibits the use of force against the "territorial integrity or political independence" of a Member State.

Notwithstanding the prohibition, the Charter recognises the inherent right of self-defence. Article 51 states that the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence is not impaired "if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations, until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain ...