Spratly Islands (2002) | Tromelin Island (2005) | |
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Airports | 4 (2001) | 1 (2004 est.) |
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) |
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
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: 1 sq km
land: 1 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | NA | about 1.7 times 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. | First explored by the French in 1776, the island came under the jurisdiction of Reunion in 1814. At present, it serves as a sea turtle sanctuary and is the site of an important meteorological station. |
Climate | tropical | tropical |
Coastline | 926 km | 3.7 km |
Country name | conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Spratly Islands |
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tromelin Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Tromelin |
Dependency status | - | possession of France; administered by the Administrateur Superieur of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands |
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 Mauritius |
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 7 m |
Environment - current issues | NA | NA |
Flag description | - | the flag of France is used |
Geographic coordinates | 8 38 N, 111 55 E | 15 52 S, 54 25 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 | climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones; wildlife sanctuary (seabirds, tortoises) |
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% (grasses; scattered bushes) (2001) |
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, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar |
Map references | Southeast Asia | Africa |
Maritime claims | NA | territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation |
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 | NA |
Natural resources | fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential | fish |
Population | no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered garrisons occupied by personnel of several claimant states (July 2002 est.) |
uninhabited, except for visits by scientists (July 2005 est.) |
Ports and harbors | none; offshore anchorage only | none; offshore anchorage only |
Terrain | flat | low, flat, and sandy; likely volcanic |
Waterways | none | - |