The Spratly Islands consist of
more than 100 small islands or reefs. They are surrounded by rich fishing
grounds and potentially by gas and oil deposits. They are claimed in their
entirety by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, while portions are claimed by
Malaysia and the Philippines. About 45 islands are occupied by relatively
small numbers of military forces from China, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Taiwan, and Vietnam. Brunei has established a fishing zone that overlaps a
southern reef but has not made any formal claim.
Geography
Spratly Islands
Location:
Southeastern Asia, group of
reefs and islands in the South China Sea, about two-thirds of the way from
southern Vietnam to the southern Philippines
Geographic coordinates:
8 38 N, 111 55 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: less than 5 sq km
land: less than 5 sq km water: 0 sq km
note: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts
scattered over an area of nearly 410,000 sq km of the central South China
Sea
Area - comparative:
NA
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
926 km
Maritime claims:
NA
Climate:
tropical
Terrain:
flat
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South
China Sea 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay
4 m
Natural resources:
fish, guano, undetermined oil
and natural gas potential
typhoons; numerous reefs and
shoals pose a serious maritime hazard
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
strategically located near
several primary shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; includes
numerous small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs
People
Spratly Islands
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered garrisons occupied by personnel of
several claimant states
Government
Spratly Islands
Country name:
conventional long form:
none conventional short form: Spratly Islands
Economy
Spratly Islands
Economy - overview:
Economic activity is limited to
commercial fishing. The proximity to nearby oil- and gas-producing
sedimentary basins suggests the potential for oil and gas deposits, but
the region is largely unexplored. There are no reliable estimates of
potential reserves. Commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.
Transportation
Spratly Islands
Airports:
3 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2 914 to
1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1 914 to
1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Heliports:
3 (2007)
Ports and terminals:
none; offshore anchorage only
Military
Spratly Islands
Military - note:
Spratly Islands consist of more
than 100 small islands or reefs of which about 45 are claimed and occupied
by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam
Transnational Issues
Spratly Islands
Disputes - international:
all of the Spratly Islands are
claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by
Malaysia and the Philippines; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive
fishing zone that encompasses Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands
but has not publicly claimed the reef; claimants in November 2002 signed
the 'Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea,' which
has eased tensions but falls short of a legally binding 'code of conduct';
in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and
Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the
Spratly Islands
