Compare Spratly Islands (2006) - Ashmore and Cartier Islands (2005)

Compare Spratly Islands (2006) z Ashmore and Cartier Islands (2005)

	Spratly Islands (2006)	Ashmore and Cartier Islands (2005)

Airports	3 (2006)	-
Airports - with paved runways	total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)	-
Airports - with unpaved runways	total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)	-
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: 5 sq km land: 5 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island
Area - comparative	NA	about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Background	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. Brunei has established a fishing zone that overlaps a southern reef, but has not made any formal claim.	These uninhabited islands came under Australian authority in 1931; formal administration began two years later. Ashmore Reef supports a rich and diverse avian and marine habitat; in 1983, it became a National Nature Reserve. Cartier Island, a former bombing range, is now a marine reserve.
Climate	tropical	tropical
Coastline	926 km	74.1 km
Country name	conventional long form: none conventional short form: Spratly Islands	conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Dependency status	-	territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services
Diplomatic representation from the US	-	none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation in the US	-	none (territory of Australia)
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 reef; 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	Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore Reef; Australia closed the surrounding waters to Indonesian traditional fishing and created a national park in the region while continuing to prospect for hydrocarbons in the vicinity
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. 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 3 m
Environment - current issues	NA	NA
Flag description	-	the flag of Australia is used
Geographic coordinates	8 38 N, 111 55 E	12 14 S, 123 05 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	Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983
Irrigated land	0 sq km	0 sq km (1998 est.)
Land boundaries	0 km	0 km
Land use	arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)	arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all grass and sand) (2001)
Legal system	-	the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia and the laws of the Northern Territory of Australia, 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	Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, midway between northwestern Australia and Timor island
Map references	Southeast Asia	Southeast Asia
Maritime claims	NA	territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 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 Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force
Natural hazards	typhoons; numerous reefs and shoals pose a serious maritime hazard	surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards
Natural resources	fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential	fish
People - note	-	the landing of illegal immigrants from Indonesia's Rote Island has become an ongoing problem
Population	no indigenous inhabitants note: there are scattered garrisons occupied by personnel of several claimant states (2004)	no indigenous inhabitants note: Indonesian fishermen are allowed access to the lagoon and fresh water at Ashmore Reef's West Island (July 2005 est.)
Ports and harbors	-	none; offshore anchorage only
Terrain	flat	low with sand and coral

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