The status and ownership of colonies is a complex issue with a historical background. For a long time, the international community has mainly followed the following principles in identifying and dealing with colonies: 1. **Right to self-determination**: The United Nations Charter clearly stipulates that all nations have the right to self-determination. This means that the people of colonies have the right to determine their own political status and choose whether to be independent, maintain contact with the original occupying country, or adopt other forms of governance. 2. **Decolonization process**: After World War II, decolonization became an important issue in the international community. Many colonies have gained autonomy and independent statehood through negotiations, consultations, or independence movements in some cases. 3. **International law**: Modern international law emphasizes the principles of state sovereignty and equality. Long-term occupation does not automatically give the occupying country legal sovereignty over the territory unless it is agreed to and recognized internationally by the people of the occupied area. 4. **Moral and ethical considerations**: Colonialism has often been accompanied by negative effects such as exploitation, oppression and cultural erosion in history. Therefore, modern society generally believes that long-term colonial rule needs to be resolved through fairness, freedom and respect for human rights, rather than simply regarding continued occupation as a legitimate territorial extension. In summary, although a country's long-term occupation of a colony may form a stable situation in actual control, according to the principles of modern international law and international relations, this does not necessarily mean that the colony will be legally regarded as the territory of the occupying country. Ultimately, the fate of the colony should be based on the wishes of the local people and the recognition of the international community.