SELECT EDITION
CATEGORIES
◆ COMMUNICATIONS(6 fields)
Defense note
about 50 small islands or reefs are occupied by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam
Radio broadcast stations
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
Radios
NA
Telephone system
domestic: NA international: NA
Television broadcast stations
NA
Televisions
NA Defense
◆ ECONOMY(2 fields)
Economic 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
◆ GEOGRAPHY(15 fields)
Area
total area: NA sq km but less than 5 sq km land area: less than 5 sq km comparative area: NA note: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered over the South China Sea
Climate
tropical
Coastline
926 km
Environment
current issues: NA natural hazards: typhoons; serious maritime hazard because of numerous reefs and shoals international agreements: NA
Geographic coordinates
8 38 N, 111 55 E
Geographic note
strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs
International disputes
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
Irrigated land
0 sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Location
Southeastern Asia, group of reefs in the South China Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam to the southern Philippines
Map references
Southeast Asia
Maritime claims
NA
Natural resources
fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential
Terrain
flat lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m
◆ GOVERNMENT(2 fields)
Data code
PG
Name of country
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Spratly Islands
◆ PEOPLE(1 fields)
Population
no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are scattered garrisons
◆ TRANSPORTATION(2 fields)
Airports
total: 4 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 2 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Ports
none