1990 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1990 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Climate
tropical
Coastline
926 km
Comparative area
undetermined
Disputes
China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam claim all or part of the Spratly Islands
Environment
subject to typhoons; includes numerous small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs
Land boundaries
none
Land use
0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 100% other
Maritime claims
undetermined
Natural resources
fish, guano; oil and natural gas potential
Note
strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; serious navigational hazard
Terrain
flat
Total area
less than 5 km2; land area: less than 5 km2; includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered over the South China Sea
People and Society
Population
no permanent inhabitants; garrisons
Government
Long-form name
none
Economy
Industries
some guano mining
Overview
Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing and phosphate mining. Geological surveys carried out several years ago suggest that substantial reserves of oil and natural gas may lie beneath the islands; commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.
Communications
Airports
3 total, 2 usable; none with runways over 2,439 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Ports
none; offshore anchorage only
Military and Security
Note
approximately 50 small islands or reefs are occupied by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam