Why is it so hard for countries to give up on trivial land claims ?

Question

Why risk wars or economic embargos on almost worthless lands or uninhabited islands.
Wouldn’t be better to give up claims and start a good relations that could benefit both countries ?

In: Other

Answer 1

Maritime laws give fishing rights to something like 200 miles surrounding each island. Even if the island is an uninhabited rock in the middle of the ocean, a country would have 400 miles of fishing rights. That might be a difference that would turn the tables from contemplating giving up vs it being worth fighting to keep.