2003 Edition

Airports

3 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

total

1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

2 914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m

1 (2002) Military Spratly Islands

Area

land

less than 5 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

total

less than 5 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

NA

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 50 islands are occupied by China (about 450 soldiers), Malaysia (70-90), the Philippines (about 100), and Vietnam (about 1,500). Brunei is a claimant but has no outposts. Geography Spratly Islands

Climate

tropical

Coastline

926 km

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Spratly Islands Economy 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 island; claimants in November 2002 signed the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea", a mechanism to ease tension but which fell short of a legally binding "code of conduct" This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

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, and there are no reliable estimates of potential reserves; commercial exploitation has yet to be developed. Transportation Spratly Islands

Elevation extremes

highest point

unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m

lowest point

South China Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

NA

Geographic coordinates

8 38 N, 111 55 E

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

Irrigated land

0 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

0%

other

100% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

0%

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

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

NA

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

Natural hazards

typhoons; serious maritime hazard because of numerous reefs and shoals

Natural resources

fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential

Population

no indigenous inhabitants

note

there are scattered garrisons occupied by personnel of several claimant states (July 2003 est.) Government Spratly Islands

Ports and harbors

none; offshore anchorage only

Terrain

flat

Waterways

none