Spratly Islands

Introduction

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.

Geography

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

Geographic coordinates

8 38 N, 111 55 E

Map references

Southeast Asia

Area

total: 5 sq kmless than
land: 5 sq kmless than
water: 0 sq km
note: 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
country comparison to the world: 251

Area - comparative

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

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

926 km

Maritime claims

NA

Climate

tropical

Terrain

small, flat islands, islets, cays, and reefs

Elevation

lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 6 m

Natural resources

fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential

Land use

agricultural land: 0% (2011 est.)
arable land: 0% (2011 est.)/permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.)/permanent pasture: 0% (2011 est.)
forest: 0% (2011 est.)
other: 100% (2011 est.)

Natural hazards

typhoons; numerous reefs and shoals pose a serious maritime hazard

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

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 and Society

Population

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

Government

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

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.

Military and Security

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

Transportation

Airports

4 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 189

Airports - with paved runways

total: 3 (2013)
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2013)
under 914 m: 1 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 1 (2013)
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)

Heliports

3 (2013)

Ports and terminals

none; offshore anchorage only

Transnational Issues

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