Spratly Islands

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 coordinates

8 38 N, 111 55 E

Map references

Southeast Asia

Area

total: less than 5 sq km
country comparison to the world: 246 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

Land use

arable land: 0%
permanent crops:0%
other:100% (2005)

Irrigated land

0 sq km

Natural hazards

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 and Society

Population

no indigenous inhabitants
note:there are scattered garrisons occupied by military personnel of several claimant states

Government

Country name

conventional long form: none
conventional short form:Spratly Islands

Economy

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

Airports

4 (2010)
country comparison to the world:189

Airports – with paved runways

total: 3
914 to 1,523 m:2
under 914 m:1 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 1
914 to 1,523 m:1 (2010)

Heliports

3 (2010)

Ports and terminals

none

offshore anchorage only

Military

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

Disputes – international

all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China (including Taiwan) and Vietnam

parts of them are claimed by Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines

despite no public territorial claim to Louisa Reef, Brunei implicitly lays claim by including it within the natural prolongation of its continental shelf and basis for a seabed median with Vietnam

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