from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Spratly Islands
Introduction
Background: 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
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 8 38 N, 111 55 E
coordinates:
Map Southeast Asia
references:
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 - NA
comparative:
Land 0 km
boundaries:
Coastline: 926 km
Maritime NA
claims:
Climate: tropical
Terrain: flat
Elevation lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
extremes: highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m
Natural fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential
resources:
Land use: arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated 0 sq km
land:
Natural typhoons; numerous reefs and shoals pose a serious
hazards: maritime hazard
Environment - NA
current
issues:
Geography - strategically located near several primary shipping
note: lanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous
small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs
People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered garrisons occupied by
personnel of several claimant states (2004)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Spratly Islands
Economy
Economy - Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing. The
overview: 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
Airports: 3 (2006)
Airports - total: 2
with paved 914 to 1,523 m: 1
runways: under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - total: 1
with unpaved 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
runways:
Ports and none; offshore anchorage only
terminals:
Military
Military - Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands
note: or reefs, of which about 45 are claimed and occupied by
China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China,
international: 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