pratly Islands are claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam; parts
of them are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines; in 1984, Brunei
established an exclusive economic zone, which encompasses Louisa Reef, but
has not publicly claimed the island
Climate:
tropical
Terrain:
flat
Natural resources:
fish, guano; undetermined oil and natural gas potential
Land use:
arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and
woodland 0%; other 100%
Environment:
subject to typhoons; includes numerous small islands, atolls, shoals, and
coral reefs
Note:
strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the central
South China Sea; serious navigational hazard

:Spratly Islands People

Population:
no permanent inhabitants; garrisons

:Spratly Islands Government

Long-form name:
none

:Spratly Islands Economy

Overview:
Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing, proximity to nearby oil-
and gas-producing sedimentary basins suggests the potential for oil and gas
deposits, but the Spratlys region is largely unexplored, and there are no
reliable estimates of potential reserves; commercial exploitation has yet to
be developed.
Industries:
none

:Spratly Islands Communications

Ports:
no natural harbors
Airports:
2 total, 2 usable; none with runways over 2,439 m; 1 with runways
1,220-2,439 m

:Spratly Islands Defense Forces

Note:
44 small islands or reefs are occupied by China, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Taiwan, and Vietnam

:Sri Lanka Geography

Total area:
65,610 km2
Land area:
64,740 km2
Comparative area:
slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
none
Coastline:
1,340 km
Maritime claims:
Contiguous zone:
24 nm
Continental shelf:
edge of continental margin or 200 nm
Exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
Territorial sea:
12 nm
Disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical; monsoonal; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest
monsoon (June to October)
Terrain:
mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior
Natural resources:
limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay
Land use:
arable land 16%; permanent crops 17%; meadows and pastures 7%; forest and
woodland 37%; other 23%; includes irrigated 8%
Environment:
occasional cyclones, tornados; defor