Background: Rich fishing grounds and the potential for gas and oil deposits have caused this archipelago to be claimed in its entirety by China Taiwan and Vietnam while portions are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines. All five parties have occupied certain islands or reefs and occasional clashes have occurred between Chinese and Vietnamese naval forces

Map reference: Asia, Southeast Asia

Area
Total area total: NA km² but less than 5 km²
Land: less than 5 km²

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 926 km

Maritime claims: NA

Climate: tropical

Terrain: flat

Natural resources: fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential

Land use
Arable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 0%
Forest and woodland: 0%
Other: 100%

Irrigated land: 0 km²

Natural hazards: subject to typhoons

Geography
Note: about 50 small islands or reefs are occupied by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam

Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are scattered garrisons

Environment
Current issues: NA
International agreements: NA

Economy overview: 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, and there are no reliable estimates of potential reserves; commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.

Industries: none

Airports: 4
Usable: 4
With permanentsurface runways: 1
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 0
With runways 1220-2439 m: 0

Disputes international: 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 economic zone, which encompasses Louisa Reef, but has not publicly claimed the island