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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. |
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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:
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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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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 |
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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.) |
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Country name:
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conventional
long form: none
conventional short form: 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. |
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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.) |
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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 |
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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" |
This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004
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