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



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