Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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.

Area [time series]

total: less than 5 sq km country comparison to the world: 248 land: less than 5 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered over an area of nearly 410,000 sq km (158,000 sq mi) of the central South China Sea

Area - comparative [time series]

NA

Climate [time series]

tropical

Coastline [time series]

926 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

NA

Geographic coordinates [time series]

8 38 N, 111 55 E

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

5,700 sq km (2006)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2011)

Location [time series]

Southeastern Asia, group of reefs and islands in the South China Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam to the southern Philippines

Map references [time series]

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims [time series]

NA

Natural hazards [time series]

typhoons; numerous reefs and shoals pose a serious maritime hazard

Natural resources [time series]

fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential

Terrain [time series]

flat

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Spratly Islands

Background [time series]

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. Since 1985 Brunei has claimed a continental shelf that overlaps a southern reef but has not made any formal claim to the reef. Brunei claims an exclusive economic zone over this area.

Military - note [time series]

Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs of which about 45 are claimed and occupied by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam

Population [time series]

no indigenous inhabitants note: there are scattered garrisons occupied by military personnel of several claimant states

Disputes - international [time series]

all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China (including Taiwan) and Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines; despite no public territorial claim to Louisa Reef, Brunei implicitly lays claim by including it within the natural prolongation of its continental shelf and basis for a seabed median with Vietnam; 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

Airports [time series]

4 (2013) country comparison to the world: 191

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)

Heliports [time series]

3 (2013)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

none; offshore anchorage only