CIA World Fact Book, 2004/Spratly Islands

Spratly Islands

Introduction	Spratly Islands

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. Brunei has established a fishing zone that overlaps a southern reef, but has not made any formal claim.

Geography	Spratly Islands

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: 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 water: 0 sq km land: less than 5 sq km
Area - comparative:	NA
Land boundaries:	0 km
Coastline:	926 km
Maritime claims:	NA
Climate:	tropical
Terrain:	flat
Elevation extremes:	lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m
Natural resources:	fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential
Land use:	arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)
Irrigated land:	0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:	typhoons; serious maritime hazard because of numerous reefs and shoals
Environment - current issues:	NA
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

Population:	no indigenous inhabitants note: there are scattered garrisons occupied by personnel of several claimant states (July 2004 est.)

Government	Spratly Islands

Country name:	conventional long form: none conventional short form: Spratly Islands

Economy	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.

Transportation	Spratly Islands

Ports and harbors:	none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:	3 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:	total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 less than 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:	total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military	Spratly Islands

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

This page was last updated on 1 January 2003

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This is a snapshot of the CIA World Fact Book as it existed on 26 March 2005