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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 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. |
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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
land: less than 5 sq km
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 of the central South China Sea |
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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:
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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% (2001) |
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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 (2004) |
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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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Ports and harbors:
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none;
offshore anchorage only |
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Airports:
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3 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total:
2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
less than 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total:
1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 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"; in March 2005, the
national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and
Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic
activities in the Spratlys |
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This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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