Lots of islands around the world are disputed between one or more countries, and are also uninhabited. It’s frequently said that they are “disputed between [X] and [Y] but administered by [Y],” or something similar. What does administering such an island really mean when there’s nothing there and no one on it except maybe flora/fauna?
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Let’s imagine that you have an island and 2 countries claim they own it. The one that will kick your ass if you try to occupy it is the one who “administers” it.
It’s just a word used to describe actual control.
Disputed territories are not just limited to islands. Multiple countries can claim a piece of land, but only one of them has people enforcing its rules on the ground.
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