SPRATLY ISLANDS
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: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%
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: no natural harbors
DEFENSE FORCES
Note: approximately 50 small islands or reefs are occupied
by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam