Went looking for a comment about this, seems like there is a Taiwan TLD[1] but that's definitely a different situation. I can't even think of a good general sys

Went looking for a comment about this, seems like there is a Taiwan TLD[1] but that's definitely a different situation. I can't even think of a good general system for this that isn't open to one powerful country or a group of countries having control over what other areas are considered countries and which aren't. I definitely agree with the other comments about how having a TLD ultimately isn't as big a deal as the other consequences of being denied statehood though [1]: https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/twtaiwan-completed-fast-track-string-evaluation-proceeding-to-synchronized-idn-cctld-evaluation-process-23-3-2010-en https://www.icann.org/en/announcements/details/twtaiwan-comp...