1992 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1992 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Climate
tropical
Coastline
926 km
Comparative area
undetermined
Disputes
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 economic zone, which encompasses Louisa Reef, but has not publicly claimed the island
Environment
subject to typhoons; includes numerous small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs
Land area
less than 5 km2; includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered over the South China Sea
Land boundaries
none
Land use
arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%
Maritime claims
undetermined
Natural resources
fish, guano; undetermined 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
NA but less than 5 km2
People and Society
Population
no permanent inhabitants; garrisons
Government
Long-form name
none
Economy
Industries
none
Overview
Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing, proximity to nearby oil- and gas-producing sedimentary basins suggests the potential for oil and gas deposits, but the Spratlys region is largely unexplored, and there are no reliable estimates of potential reserves; commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.
Communications
Airports
2 total, 2 usable; none with runways over 2,439 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Ports
no natural harbors
Military and Security
Note
44 small islands or reefs are occupied by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam