2019 Edition

Background

The Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs 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

Land

5 sq km less than

Total

5 sq km less than

Water

0 sq km

Area Comparative

land area is about seven times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC

Climate

tropical

Coastline

926 km

Elevation

Highest Point

unnamed location on Southwest Cay 6 m

Lowest Point

South China Sea 0 m

Environment Current Issues

China's use of dredged sand and coral to build artificial islands harms reef systems; illegal fishing practices indiscriminately harvest endangered species, including sea turtles and giant clams

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

Land Boundaries

0 km

Land Use

Agricultural Land

0% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

0% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

0% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

0% (2011 est.)

Forest

0% (2011 est.)

Other

100% (2011 est.)

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

Natural Hazards

typhoons; numerous reefs and shoals pose a serious maritime hazard

Natural Resources

fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential

Terrain

small, flat islands, islets, cays, and reefs

Population

no indigenous inhabitants

Country Name

Conventional Long Form

none

Conventional Short Form

Spratly Islands

Etymology

named after a British whaling captain Richard SPRATLY, who sighted Spratly Island in 1843; the name of the island eventually passed to the entire archipelago

Economy Overview

Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing. The proximity to nearby oil- and gas-producing sedimentary basins indicate potential oil and gas deposits, but the region is largely unexplored. No reliable estimates of potential reserves are available. Commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.

Airports

4 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

914 To 1 523 M

2 (2013)

Total

3 (2013)

Under 914 M

1 (2013)

Airports With Unpaved Runways

914 To 1 523 M

1 (2013)

Total

1 (2013)

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