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Spratly Islands
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Background:
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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 |
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Location:
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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 |
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Geographic coordinates: | 8 38 N, 111 55 E |
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Map references:
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Southeast Asia |
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Area:
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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 |
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Area - comparative:
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NA |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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926 km |
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Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
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NA |
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Climate:
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tropical |
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Terrain:
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flat |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m |
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Natural resources:
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fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential |
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Land use:
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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0 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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typhoons; serious maritime hazard because of numerous reefs and shoals |
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Environment - current issues:
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NA |
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Geography - note:
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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 |
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Population:
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no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered garrisons occupied by personnel of several claimant states (July 2004 est.) |
| Government | Spratly Islands |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Spratly Islands |
| Economy | Spratly Islands |
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Economy - overview:
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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 |
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Waterways:
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none |
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Ports and harbors:
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none; offshore anchorage only |
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Airports:
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3 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2003 est.) |
| Military | Spratly Islands |
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Military - note:
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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 |
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Disputes - international:
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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 reef; 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" |