The World Factbook CIA Home CIA Home About CIA Careers Offices of CIA News & Information Library Kid’s Page Contact CIA CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

         
  Spratly Islands  
Categories Banner
 Introduction
 Geography
 People
 Government
 Economy
 Communications
 Transportation
 Military
 Transnational Issues

This page was last updated on 14 May 2009


Map of Spratly Islands




Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order

   Introduction    Spratly Islands Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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 Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
8 38 N, 111 55 E
Map references:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
Southeast Asia
Area:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
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
Area - comparative:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
NA
Land boundaries:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
926 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
NA
Climate:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
tropical
Terrain:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
flat
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential
Land use:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
typhoons; numerous reefs and shoals pose a serious maritime hazard
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
NA
Geography - note:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
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 Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered garrisons occupied by personnel of several claimant states
   Government    Spratly Islands Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Spratly Islands
   Economy    Spratly Islands Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
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 Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4 (2008)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2008)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2008)
Heliports:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
3 (2007)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
none; offshore anchorage only
   Military    Spratly Islands Top of Page
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
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 Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
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 Spratly Islands

This page was last updated on 14 May 2009


Bottom Banner