Background: 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.

Geographic coordinates: 8 38 N 111 55 E

Map reference: Southeast Asia

Area
Total: less than 5 km²
Land: less than 5 km²
Water: 0 km²
Note: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered over an area of nearly 410,000 km² of the central South China Sea
Comparative: NA

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 926 km

Maritime claims: NA

Climate: tropical

Terrain: flat

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
Extremes highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m

Natural resources: fish guano undetermined oil and natural gas potential

Land use
Arable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Other: 100% (2005)

Irrigated land: 0 km²

Natural hazards: typhoons; numerous reefs and shoals pose a serious maritime hazard

Geography
Note: strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous small islands atolls shoals and coral reefs

Population
Note: there are scattered garrisons occupied by personnel of several claimant states

Environment
Current issues: NA

Country name
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Spratly Islands

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. There are no reliable estimates of potential reserves. Commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.

Airports: 3 (2007)
With paved runways total: 2
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 1 (2007)
With unpaved runways total: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (2007)

Heliports: 3 (2007)

Ports and terminals: none; offshore anchorage only

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 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