{"name": "Spratly Islands", "code": "PG", "publish_date": "November 21, 2018", "html": "<div class='wfb-text-box'><div class=\"region1 geos_title eas_dark\"><strong>East Asia/Southeast Asia ::Spratly Islands</strong></div><ul class='expandcollapse'><li id='introduction-category-section-anchor'><div class='question eas_med' sectiontitle='Introduction'ccode='pg'>Introduction ::<span class='region'>Spratly Islands</span></div></li><li id='introduction-category-section'><div class=\"category eas_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-introduction-background\">Background:</div><div id=\"field-background\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>The Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs 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. Since 1985 Brunei has claimed a continental shelf that overlaps a southern reef but has not made any formal claim to the reef. Brunei claims an exclusive economic zone over this area.</div></div></li><li id='geography-category-section-anchor'><div class='question eas_med' sectiontitle='Geography'ccode='pg'>Geography ::<span class='region'>Spratly Islands</span></div></li><li id='geography-category-section'><div class=\"category eas_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-location\">Location:</div><div id=\"field-location\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>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</div></div><div class=\"category eas_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-geographic-coordinates\">Geographic coordinates:</div><div id=\"field-geographic-coordinates\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>8 38 N, 111 55 E</div></div><div class=\"category eas_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-map-references\">Map references:</div><div id=\"field-map-references\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>Southeast Asia</div></div><div class=\"category eas_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-area\">Area:</div><div id=\"field-area\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">total:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">5 sq km</span><span class=\"subfield-note\">less than</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">land:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">5 sq km</span><span class=\"subfield-note\">less than</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">water:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">0 sq km</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span></div><div class=\"category_data note\"><p><strong>note:</strong> includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered over an area of nearly 410,000 sq km (158,000 sq mi) of the central South China Sea</p></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>251</span></div></div><div class=\"category eas_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-area-comparative\">Area - comparative:</div><div id=\"field-area-comparative\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>land area is about seven times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC</div></div><div class=\"category eas_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-land-boundaries\">Land boundaries:</div><div id=\"field-land-boundaries\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">0 km</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span></div></div><div class=\"category eas_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-coastline\">Coastline:</div><div id=\"field-coastline\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">926 km</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span></div></div><div class=\"category eas_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-maritime-claims\">Maritime claims:</div><div id=\"field-maritime-claims\"><div class=\"category_data note\">NA</div></div><div class=\"category eas_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-climate\">Climate:</div><div id=\"field-climate\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>tropical</div></div><div class=\"category eas_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-terrain\">Terrain:</div><div id=\"field-terrain\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>small, flat islands, islets, cays, and reefs</div></div><div class=\"category eas_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-elevation\">Elevation:</div><div id=\"field-elevation\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">0 m</span><span class=\"subfield-note\">lowest point: South China Sea</span></div><div class=\"category_data note\">6 highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay</div></div><div class=\"category eas_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-natural-resources\">Natural resources:</div><div id=\"field-natural-resources\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential</div></div><div class=\"category eas_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-land-use\">Land use:</div><div id=\"field-land-use\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">agricultural land:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">0%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2011\">(2011 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield grouped_subfield'><span class=\"subfield-name\">arable land:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">0%</span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2011\">(2011 est.)</span>/<span class=\"subfield-name\">permanent crops:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">0%</span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2011\">(2011 est.)</span>/<span class=\"subfield-name\">permanent pasture:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">0%</span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2011\">(2011 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">forest:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">0%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2011\">(2011 est.)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">other:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">100%</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2011\">(2011 est.)</span></div></div><div class=\"category eas_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-natural-hazards\">Natural hazards:</div><div id=\"field-natural-hazards\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>typhoons; numerous reefs and shoals pose a serious maritime hazard</div></div><div class=\"category eas_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-environment-current-issues\">Environment - current issues:</div><div id=\"field-environment-current-issues\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>China's use of dredged sand and coral to build artificial islands harms reef systems; illegal fishing practices indiscriminately harvest endangered species, including sea turtles and giant clams</div></div><div class=\"category eas_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-geography-geography-note\">Geography - note:</div><div id=\"field-geography-note\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs</div></div></li><li id='people-and-society-category-section-anchor'><div class='question eas_med' sectiontitle='People and Society'ccode='pg'>People and Society ::<span class='region'>Spratly Islands</span></div></li><li id='people-and-society-category-section'><div class=\"category eas_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-people-and-society-population\">Population:</div><div id=\"field-population\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-note\">no indigenous inhabitants</span></div><div class=\"category_data note\"><p><strong>note:</strong> there are scattered garrisons occupied by military personnel of several claimant states</p></div></div></li><li id='government-category-section-anchor'><div class='question eas_med' sectiontitle='Government'ccode='pg'>Government ::<span class='region'>Spratly Islands</span></div></li><li id='government-category-section'><div class=\"category eas_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-government-country-name\">Country name:</div><div id=\"field-country-name\"><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">conventional long form:</span>none</div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">conventional short form:</span>Spratly Islands</div><div class='category_data subfield text'><span class=\"subfield-name\">etymology:</span>named after a British whaling captain Richard SPRATLY, who sighted Spratly Island in 1843; the name of the island eventually passed to the entire archipelago</div></div></li><li id='economy-category-section-anchor'><div class='question eas_med' sectiontitle='Economy'ccode='pg'>Economy ::<span class='region'>Spratly Islands</span></div></li><li id='economy-category-section'><div class=\"category eas_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-economy-economy-overview\">Economy - overview:</div><div id=\"field-economy-overview\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing. The proximity to nearby oil- and gas-producing sedimentary basins indicate potential oil and gas deposits, but the region is largely unexplored. No reliable estimates of potential reserves are available. Commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.</div></div></li><li id='transportation-category-section-anchor'><div class='question eas_med' sectiontitle='Transportation'ccode='pg'>Transportation ::<span class='region'>Spratly Islands</span></div></li><li id='transportation-category-section'><div class=\"category eas_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-transportation-airports\">Airports:</div><div id=\"field-airports\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">4</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2013\">(2013)</span></div><div><span class='category'>country comparison to the world:</span><span class='category_data'>189</span></div></div><div class=\"category eas_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-transportation-airports-with-paved-runways\">Airports - with paved runways:</div><div id=\"field-airports-with-paved-runways\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">total:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">3</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2013\">(2013)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">914 to 1,523 m:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">2</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2013\">(2013)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">under 914 m:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">1</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2013\">(2013)</span></div></div><div class=\"category eas_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-transportation-airports-with-unpaved-runways\">Airports - with unpaved runways:</div><div id=\"field-airports-with-unpaved-runways\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">total:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">1</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2013\">(2013)</span></div><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-name\">914 to 1,523 m:</span><span class=\"subfield-number\">1</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2013\">(2013)</span></div></div><div class=\"category eas_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-transportation-heliports\">Heliports:</div><div id=\"field-heliports\"><div class='category_data subfield numeric'><span class=\"subfield-number\">3</span><span class=\"subfield-note\"></span><span class=\"subfield-date\" aria-label=\"Date of information: 2013\">(2013)</span></div></div><div class=\"category eas_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-transportation-ports-and-terminals\">Ports and terminals:</div><div id=\"field-ports-and-terminals\"><div class=\"category_data note\">none; offshore anchorage only</div></div></li><li id='military-and-security-category-section-anchor'><div class='question eas_med' sectiontitle='Military and Security'ccode='pg'>Military and Security ::<span class='region'>Spratly Islands</span></div></li><li id='military-and-security-category-section'><div class=\"category eas_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-military-and-security-military-note\">Military - note:</div><div id=\"field-military-note\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>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</div></div></li><li id='transnational-issues-category-section-anchor'><div class='question eas_med' sectiontitle='Transnational Issues'ccode='pg'>Transnational Issues ::<span class='region'>Spratly Islands</span></div></li><li id='transnational-issues-category-section'><div class=\"category eas_light\" style=\"padding-left:5px;\" id=\"field-anchor-transnational-issues-disputes-international\">Disputes - international:</div><div id=\"field-disputes-international\"><div class='category_data subfield text'>all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China (including Taiwan) and Vietnamparts of them are claimed by Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippinesdespite no public territorial claim to Louisa Reef, Brunei implicitly lays claim by including it within the natural prolongation of its continental shelf and basis for a seabed median with Vietnamclaimants 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</div></div></li></ul></div>"}