2014 Edition

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. Since 1985 Brunei has claimed a continental shelf that overlaps a southern reef but has not made any formal claim to the reef. Brunei claims an exclusive economic zone over this area.

Area

less than 5 sq km less than 5 sq km 0 sq km includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered over an area of nearly 410,000 sq km (158,000 sq mi) of the central South China Sea

total

less than 5 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

NA

Climate

tropical

Coastline

926 km

Elevation extremes

South China Sea 0 m unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m

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

Irrigated land

5,700 sq km (2006)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

0% 0% 100% (2011)

arable land

0%

other

100% (2011)

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

Natural hazards

typhoons; numerous reefs and shoals pose a serious maritime hazard

Natural resources

fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential

Terrain

flat

Population

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

Country name

none Spratly Islands

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Spratly Islands

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.

Airports

4 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

2

total

3

under 914 m

1 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

1 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2013)

total

1

Heliports

3 (2013)

Ports and terminals

none; offshore anchorage only

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

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