Spratly Islands (2008) | Bassas da India (2006) | |
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Airports | 3 (2007) | - |
Airports - with paved runways | total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007) |
- |
Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007) |
- |
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 | 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. | 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 an Administrateur Superieur of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands. |
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 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 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 | 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. 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 |
Heliports | 3 (2007) | - |
Irrigated land | 0 sq km | 0 sq km |
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 rock) (2005) |
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 | territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic 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 France |
Natural hazards | typhoons; numerous reefs and shoals pose a serious maritime hazard | 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 |
uninhabited (July 2006 est.) |
Terrain | flat | volcanic rock |