Spratly Islands
_Spratly_Islands.jpg)
See regional map IX
Geography
Total area: less than 5 km²; land area:
less than 5 km²; includes 100 or so islets,
coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered over
the South China Sea
Comparative area: undetermined
Land boundaries: none
Coastline: 926 km
Maritime claims: undetermined
Disputes: China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam claim all or part of the Spratly Islands
Climate: tropical
Terrain: flat
Natural resources: fish, guano; oil and natural gas potential
Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 100% other
Environment: subject to typhoons; includes numerous small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs
Note: strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; serious navigational hazard
People
Population: no permanent inhabitants;
garrisons
Government
Long-form name: none
Economy
Overview: Economic activity is limited to
commercial fishing and phosphate mining.
Geological surveys carried out several
years ago suggest that substantial reserves
of oil and natural gas may lie beneath the
islands; commercial exploitation has yet to
be developed.
Industries: some guano mining
Communications
Airports: 3 total, 2 usable; none with
runways over 2,439 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439
m
Ports: none; offshore anchorage only
Defense Forces
Note: approximately 50 small islands or
reefs are occupied by China, Malaysia,
the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam