Spratly Islands (2002) | Bassas da India (2003) | |
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Airports | 4 (2001) | - |
Airports - with paved runways | total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002) |
- |
Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2002) |
- |
Area | total: less than 5 sq km
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 of the central South China Sea |
total: 0.2 sq km
land: 0.2 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | NA | about one-third the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
Background | This archipelago - surrounded by rich fishing grounds and potentially by gas and oil deposits - is claimed in its entirety by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, while portions are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines. All five parties occupy certain islands or reefs. | This atoll is a volcanic rock surrounded by reefs and is awash at high tide. A French possession since 1897, it was placed under the administration of a commissioner residing in Reunion in 1968. |
Climate | tropical | tropical |
Coastline | 926 km | 35.2 km |
Country name | conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Spratly Islands |
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bassas da India |
Dependency status | - | possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion |
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 island; in 2000, China joined ASEAN discussions towards creating a South China Sea "code of conduct" - a non-legally binding confidence building measure | claimed by Madagascar |
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, and there are no reliable estimates of potential reserves; commercial exploitation has yet to be developed. | no economic activity |
Elevation extremes | lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m |
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 2.4 m |
Environment - current issues | NA | NA |
Flag description | - | the flag of France is used |
Geographic coordinates | 8 38 N, 111 55 E | 21 30 S, 39 50 E |
Geography - note | strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs | the islands emerge from a circular reef that sits atop a long-extinct, submerged volcano |
Irrigated land | 0 sq km (1998 est.) | 0 sq km (1998 est.) |
Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km |
Land use | arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.) |
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all rock) (1998 est.) |
Legal system | - | the laws of France, where applicable, apply |
Location | 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 | Southern Africa, islands in the southern Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from Madagascar to Mozambique |
Map references | Southeast Asia | Africa |
Maritime claims | NA | exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
Military - note | 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 | defense is the responsibility of France |
Natural hazards | typhoons; serious maritime hazard because of numerous reefs and shoals | maritime hazard since it is usually under water during high tide and surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones |
Natural resources | fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential | none |
Population | no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered garrisons occupied by personnel of several claimant states (July 2002 est.) |
uninhabited (July 2003 est.) |
Ports and harbors | none; offshore anchorage only | none; offshore anchorage only |
Terrain | flat | volcanic rock |
Waterways | none | none |