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Spratly Islands

Spratly Islands
Pluralyes
NameSpratly Islands
Image CaptionSpratly Islands
Image Size250px
LocationSouth China Sea
Coordinates 
(Itu Aba Island)
Total Islandsover 750
Major IslandsItu Aba Island
Namyit Island
Northeast Cay
Sin Cowe Island
Southwest Cay
Spratly Island
Swallow Reef
Thitu Island
West York Island
Arealess than 5 km2
Coastline926 km (575.4 mi)
Highest Mounton Southwest Cay
Elevation4 m (13.1 ft)
Country ClaimBrunei
Country Claim Divisions TitleEEZ
Country Claim DivisionsBrunei zone
Country 2 ClaimMalaysia
Country 2 Claim Divisions TitleState
Country 2 Claim DivisionsSabah
Country 3 ClaimPhilippines
Country 3 Claim Divisions TitleMunicipality
Country 3 Claim DivisionsKalayaan
Country 4 ClaimPeople's Republic of China
Country 4 Claim Divisions TitleCounty
Country 4 Claim DivisionsAdministration Office for Xisha Islands, Zhongsha Islands and Nansha Islands
Country 5 ClaimRepublic of China (Taiwan)
Country 5 Claim Divisions TitleMunicipality
Country 5 Claim DivisionsKaohsiung
Country 6 ClaimVietnam
Country 6 Claim Divisions TitleProvince
Country 6 Claim DivisionsKhanh Hoa
Countrynone
Populationno indigenous population
Ethnic Groupsvarious

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The Spratly Islands are a group of more than 750 reefs, islets, atolls, cays and islands in the South China Sea. The archipelago lies off the coasts of the Philippines and Malaysia (Sabah), about one third of the way from there to southern Vietnam. They comprise less than four square kilometers of land area spread over more than 425,000 square kilometers of sea. The Spratlys are one of three archipelagos of the South China Sea which comprise more than 30,000 islands and reefs and which complicate governance and economics in that region of Southeast Asia. Such small and remote islands have little economic value in themselves, but are important in establishing international boundaries. There are no native islanders but there are rich fishing grounds and initial surveys indicate the islands may contain significant reserves of oil and natural gas.

About 45 islands are occupied by relatively small numbers of military forces from Vietnam, the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China (Taiwan), Malaysia and the Philippines. Brunei has also claimed an EEZ in the southeastern part of the Spratlys encompassing just one area of small islands above mean high water (on Louisa Reef.)


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