20) annually: 341,670 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $6.3 billion,
1.4% of GDP (1995)

======================================================================

@Spratly Islands
---------------

Map
---

Location: 8 38 N, 111 55 E -- Southeastern Asia, group of reefs in
the South China Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern
Vietnam to the southern Philippines

Geography
---------

Location: Southeastern Asia, group of reefs in the South China
Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam to the
southern Philippines

Geographic coordinates: 8 38 N, 111 55 E

Map references: Southeast Asia

Area:
total area: NA sq km but less than 5 sq km
land area: less than 5 sq km
comparative area: NA
note: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts
scattered over the South China Sea

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 926 km

Maritime claims: NA

International disputes: 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
economic zone, which encompasses Louisa Reef, but has not publicly
claimed the island

Climate: tropical

Terrain: flat
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m

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%

Irrigated land: 0 sq km

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: typhoons; serious maritime hazard because of
numerous reefs and shoals
international agreements: NA

Geographic note: strategically located near several primary
shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous
small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs

People
------

Population: no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are scattered
garrisons

Government
----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Spratly Islands

Data code: PG

Economy
-------

Economic 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