The Spratly Islands are a group of more than 100 reefs, islets and islands occupying in total less than five square kilometres and spread over more than 400,000 square kilometres of sea. Tagalog is one of the major languages used in the Philippines. The Malay language ( ISO 639-1 code MS is an Austronesian language spoken by the Malay people and people of other ethnic groups who reside in the The Vietnamese alphabet has the following 29 letters in collating order Description The Vietnamese alphabet called Chữ Quốc Ngữ Hán tự ( {{IPA|/han˦˥ tɯ˨/}}; 漢[[wikt 字|字]] meaning " Chinese character " or chữ Nho ( {{IPA|/tɕɯ˧˨˧ ɲɔ/}} The sea in question is the South China Sea and the location is between the Philippines and Vietnam. The Spratlys are part of the great sweep of archipelago Southeast Asia which totals more than 30,000 and which so complicates geography, governance and economics in the region. As these are so small and remote, there would not be much interest in the area - however, the islands are more important as territorial markers than as places of habitation. There are no native islanders but there are rich fishing grounds and initial surveys indicate the islands may contain significant oil and gas.

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. Brunei Darussalam, (bruːˈnaɪ in English officially the State of Brunei Abode of Peace (Negara Brunei Darussalam Jawi: برني دارالسلام In nautical terminology a reef is a rock, sandbar, or other feature lying beneath the surface of the water (six fathoms or less at low water The Islands are located in the Southeastern Asian group of reefs and islands in the South China Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam to the southern Philippines. The South China Sea is a Marginal sea south of China. It is a part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from Singapore to the

Geography and economic development

NASA picture of a cay in the Spratly group. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA, ˈnæsə is an agency of the United States government, responsible for the nation's public space program

• Coordinates: 8°38′N, 111°55′E (Spratly Island)
• Area (land): less than 5 km²
  • note: includes 148 or so islets, coral reefs, and seamounts scattered over an area of nearly 410,000 km² of the central South China Sea
• Coastline: 926 km
• Political divisions:
  • Vietnam: Part of Khanh Hoa Province;
  • People's Republic of China: Part of the Paracels, Spratlys, and Zhongsha Islands Authority, Hainan province;
  • Philippines: Part of Palawan province;
  • Malaysia: Part of the state of Sabah (also claimed by the Philippines);
  • Republic of China: Part of Kaohsiung municipality
• Climate: tropical
• Terrain: flat
• Elevation extremes:
  • lowest point: South China Sea (0 m)
  • highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay (4 m)
• Natural hazards: typhoons; serious maritime hazards because of numerous banks, reefs and shoals

The islands contain no arable land and have no indigenous inhabitants, although twenty of the islands, including Itu Aba, the largest, are considered to be able to sustain human life. Coral reefs are Aragonite structures produced by living organisms found in marine waters with little to no nutrients in the water A seamount is a Mountain rising from the Ocean Seafloor that does not reach to the water's surface ( Sea level) and thus is not an Island Khánh Hòa Province ( Hán tự: 慶[[wikt 和|和]] is a province of Vietnam, located in the South Central Coast. The Hainan Province Paracels Spratlys and Zhongsha Islands Authority (海南省西沙群岛、南沙群岛、中沙群岛办事处 or the Paracels' Authority (西沙办 Hainan ( POJ: Hai-lam Pinyin:, Jyutping: hoi2 naam4 literal meaning "South of the Sea" is the smallest province of the People's Palawan is an Island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region. Sabah is a Malaysian state located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP Southwest Cay or Pugad Island or Song Tu Tay Island (Pugad; Đảo Song Tử Tây is an Islet in the Spratly Islands. In Geography, arable land (from Latin arare, to Plough) is an agricultural term meaning land that can be used for Natural resources include fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential. Fish are aquatic Vertebrate animals that are typically ectothermic (previously Cold-blooded) covered with scales, and equipped with two Guano (from the Quechua 'wanu' via Spanish) is the Feces of Seabirds Bats and seals Petroleum ( L petroleum, from Greek πετρέλαιον, lit Natural gas is a Gaseous Fossil fuel consisting primarily of Methane but including significant quantities of Ethane, Propane, Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing. Economics is the social science that studies the production distribution, and consumption of goods and services. For the computer security term see Phishing. Fishing is the activity of catching Fish. The proximity to nearby oil- and gas-producing sedimentary basins suggests the potential for oil and gas deposits, but the region is largely unexplored, and there are no reliable estimates of potential reserves. Petroleum ( L petroleum, from Greek πετρέλαιον, lit This page is about the physical properties of gas as a state of matter Sediment is any particulate matter that can be transported by fluid flow and which eventually is deposited as a layer of solid particles on the bed or bottom of a body of Commercial exploitation has yet to be developed. The Spratly Islands have no ports or harbors but have four airports. An airport is a location where Aircraft such as airplanes, Helicopters and blimps take off and land These islands are strategically located near several primary shipping lanes.

Early history

Geographic map of Spratlys. Click for more detailed image.

The first possible recorded human interaction with the Spratly Islands dates back as far as 3 B. C. This is based on the discovery that the people of Nanyue (southern China and northern Vietnam) and Old Champa kingdom fishermen (modern-day central Vietnam) had been visiting the Spratly Islands and other South China Sea Islands for fishing annually. Nanyue ( was an ancient kingdom that consisted of parts of the modern Chinese provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan and much of modern northern China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National The kingdom of Champa ( Chăm Pa in Vietnamese or Chiêm Thành in Hán Việt records was an Indianized kingdom and controlled what The South China Sea Islands (or Nanhai Islands, simplified: 南海诸岛 traditional: 南海諸島 Pinyin: Nánhǎi Zhūdǎo consist of over

Ancient Chinese maps record the Qianli Changsha (千里長沙) and Wanli Shitang (萬里石塘), which China today claims refer to these islands. These islands were labeled as Chinese territory since the Yuan Dynasty in the 13th century,^[1] followed by the Ming Dynasty. The Yuan Dynasty ( Pinyin: Yuáncháo Dai Ön Ulus (Дай Юан Улс was a ruling Dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai ^[2] When the Ming Dynasty collapsed, the Qing Dynasty continued to include the territory in maps complied in 1724,^[3] 1755,^[4] 1767,^[5] 1810,^[6] 1817^[7] by the Qing Dynasty of China. Not to be confused with Qin Dynasty, the first dynasty of Imperial China

Ancient Vietnamese maps record Bãi Cát Vàng (Golden Sandbanks, as claimed today by Vietnam referring to both Paracel and Spratly Islands) which lies near the Coast of the central Vietnam as early as the 17th century. The Paracel Islands are a group of small Islands and Reefs in the South China Sea administered by the People's Republic of China In Phủ Biên Tạp Lục (Frontier Chronicles) by the scholar Le Quy Don, Hoàng Sa and Trường Sa were defined as belonging to Quảng Ngãi District. Le Quy Don (Lê Quý Đôn 黎貴敦 1726–1784 was an 18th-century Vietnamese philosopher poet encyclopedist and government official He described it as where sea products and shipwrecked cargoes were available to be collected. Vietnamese text written in the 17th century referenced government-sponsored economic activities during the Le Dynasty, 200 years earlier. The Later Lê Dynasty ( Vietnamese: Nhà Hậu Lê; Hán Việt: 後黎朝 sometimes referred to as the Lê Dynasty (the earlier Lê Dynasty The Vietnamese government conducted several geographical surveys of the islands in the 18th century.

The islands were sporadically visited throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries by mariners from different European powers (including either Richard Spratly or William Spratly, after whom the island group derives its most recognizable English name). English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States However, these nations showed little interest in the islands. In 1883, German boats surveyed the Spratly and Paracel Islands but withdrew the survey eventually after receiving protests from the Nguyen Dynasty.

In the 1933, France claimed the Spratly and Paracel Islands on behalf of its then-colony Vietnam. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. It occupied a number of the Spratly Islands, including Itu Aba, built weather stations on two, and administered them as part of French Indochina. Itu Aba Island or Taiping Island (Ligaw/Ligao; Đảo Ba Bình is the largest of the Spratly Islands (Nansha Islands in the South China Sea. First French interventions See also France-Vietnam relations France-Vietnam relations started as early as the 17th century with the mission of the Jesuit This occupation was protested by the Republic of China government because France admitted finding Chinese fishermen there when French war ships visited nine islands. REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES In 1935, the Chinese government also announced a sovereignty claim on the Spratly Islands. Japan occupied some of the islands in 1939 during World War II, and used the islands as a submarine base for the occupation of Southeast Asia. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including A submarine is a Watercraft that can operate independently below water as distinct from a Submersible that has only limited underwater capability During the occupation, these islands were called Shinnan Shoto (新南諸島), literally the New Southern Islands, and put under the governance of Taiwan together with the Paracel Islands (西沙群岛).

Following the defeat of Japan at the end of World War II, the Republic of China government (Nationalist) re-claimed the whole Spratly Islands (including Itu Aba) and accepted the Japanese surrender on the islands based on Cairo Declaration and Potsdam Declaration. REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES The Cairo Declaration was a result from Cairo Conference at Cairo, Egypt, on November 27, 1943. The Potsdam Declaration or the Proclamation Defining Terms for Japanese Surrender was a statement issued on July 26, 1945 by President of the Japan renounced all claims to the islands in the 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty. Attending countries Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Chile In the treaty with Republic of China, Japan again renounced all claims to the islands together with the Paracels, Pratas & other islands captured from China. The Nationalist withdrew from most of the Spratly and Paracel Islands after they were defeated by the forces of the opposing Communist Party of China in 1949. The Communist Party of China ( CPC) ( also known as the Chinese Communist Party ( CCP) is the founding and ruling political party of the

In 1958, the People's Republic of China issued a declaration defining its territorial waters which encompassed the Spratly Islands. North Vietnam's prime minister, Pham Van Dong, sent a formal note to Zhou Enlai, stating that "The Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam respects this decision. "^[8]

Today the Itu Aba Island is still administrated by the Republic of China government in Taiwan. Itu Aba Island or Taiping Island (Ligaw/Ligao; Đảo Ba Bình is the largest of the Spratly Islands (Nansha Islands in the South China Sea. REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES In 1951, the People's Republic of China declared in response to Treaty of San Francisco that the Spratly Islands belonged to China. Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES Attending countries Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Chile When the French left Vietnam, the naval units of the Vietnamese government took over in Truong Sa.

Political dispute

Part of a series on Spratly Islands
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Confrontations
Johnson South Reef Skirmish Southwest Cay Invasion
Philippine-Related
Kalayaan, Palawan Policies, activities and history...
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Kingdom of Humanity Republic of Morac-Songhrati-Meads
Available Island/Reef Articles
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There are multiple reasons why the neighboring nations would be interested in the Spratly Islands. The Johnson South Reef Skirmish of 1988 was a Naval Battle that took place between Chinese and Vietnamese forces over Johnson South Southwest Cay or Pugad Island or Song Tu Tay Island (Pugad; Đảo Song Tử Tây is an Islet in the Spratly Islands. Kalayaan is a 5th class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. This article discusses the policies activities and history of the Republic of the Philippines in the Spratly Islands. The Kingdom of Humanity, surrounded by the Humanity Sea, a Micronation, was a kingdom in the Spratly Islands established in 1878 by The Republic of Morac-Songhrati-Meads was a Micronation in the Spratly Islands established by Christopher Schneider in 1959. In 1968 oil was discovered in the region. The Geology and Mineral Resources Ministry of the People's Republic of China (PRC) has estimated that the Spratly area holds oil and natural gas reserves of 17. 7 billion tons (1. 60 × 10¹⁰ kg), as compared to the 13 billion tons (1. 17 × 10¹⁰ kg) held by Kuwait, placing it as the fourth largest reserve bed in the world. The State of Kuwait ( دولة الكويت IPA [dawlatt̪ alkuwajt̪]) is a sovereign Arab Emirate on the coast of the Persian Gulf, enclosed Naturally, these large reserves assisted in intensifying the situation and propelled the territorial claims of the neighboring countries. On 11 March 1976, the first major Philippine oil discovery occurred off the coast of Palawan, within the Spratly Islands territory, and these oil fields now account for fifteen percent of all petroleum consumed in the Philippines. Events 1425 BC - Thutmose III, Pharaoh of Egypt, dies (according to the Low Chronology of the 18th Dynasty Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Palawan is an Island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region. In 1992, the PRC and Vietnam granted oil exploration contracts to U. S. oil companies that covered overlapping areas in the Spratlys. In May 1992, the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) and Crestone Energy (a U. S. company based in Denver, Colorado) signed a cooperation contract for the joint exploration of the Wan'an Bei-21 block, a 25,155 km² section of the southwestern South China Sea that includes Spratly Island areas. The City and County of Denver (pronounced /ˈdɛnvɚ/ is the Capital and the most populous city of Colorado, in the United States The South China Sea is a Marginal sea south of China. It is a part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from Singapore to the Part of the Crestone's contract covered Vietnam’s blocks 133 and 134, where PetroVietnam and ConocoPhillips Vietnam Exploration & Production, a unit of ConocoPhillips, agreed to evaluate prospects in April 1992. ConocoPhillips Company ( is an international energy corporation with its headquarters located in Houston Texas. This led to a confrontation between China and Vietnam, with each demanding that the other cancel its contract.

An additional motive is the region's role as one of the world's most productive areas for commercial fishing. In 1988, for example, the South China Sea accounted for eight percent of the total world catch, a figure which has certainly risen. The PRC has predicted that the South China Sea holds combined fishing and oil and gas resources worth one trillion dollars. The dollar (often represented by the Dollar sign: "$" is the name of the official Currency in several countries dependencies and other There have already been numerous clashes between the Philippines and other nations — particularly the PRC — over foreign fishing vessels in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the media regularly report the arrest of Chinese fishermen. Under the law of the sea, an Exclusive Economic Zone ( EEZ) is a seazone over which a State has special rights over the exploration and use of marine In 1984, Brunei established an exclusive fishing zone encompassing Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands, but has not publicly claimed the island.

The region is also one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. During the 1980s, at least two hundred and seventy ships passed through the Spratly Islands region each day, and currently more than half of the world's supertanker traffic, by tonnage, passes through the region’s waters every year. Tanker traffic through the South China Sea is over three times greater than through the Suez Canal and five times more than through the Panama Canal; twenty five percent of the world’s crude oil passes through the South China Sea. The Suez Canal is a Canal in Egypt. Opened in 1869 it allows Water transportation between Europe and Asia without circumnavigation The Panama Canal is a man-made Canal in Panama which joins the

There have been occasional naval clashes over the Spratly Islands. In 1988, China and Vietnam clashed at sea over possession of Johnson Reef in the Spratlys. Chinese gunboats sank Vietnamese transport ships supporting a landing party of Vietnamese soldiers.

In response to growing concerns by coastal states regarding encroachments by foreign vessels on their natural resources, the United Nations convened the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1982 to determine the issue of international sea boundaries. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ( UNCLOS) also called the Law of the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea treaty is the international agreement that resulted In response to these concerns, it was resolved that a coastal state could claim two hundred nautical miles of jurisdiction beyond its land boundaries. A nautical mile or sea mile is a unit of Length. It corresponds approximately to one minute of Latitude along any meridian. However UNCLOS failed to address the issue of how to adjudicate on overlapping claims and so the future of the islands remains clouded.

Following a 1995 dispute between China and the Philippines an ASEAN-brokered agreement was reached between the PRC and ASEAN member nations whereby a nation would inform the others of any military movement within the disputed territory and that there would be no further construction. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, commonly referred to as ASEAN, ˈɑːsiːɑːn AH-see-ahn in English (the Official language The agreement was promptly violated by China and Malaysia. Claiming storm damage, seven Chinese naval vessels entered the area to repair "fishing shelters" in Panganiban Reef. Malaysia erected a structure on Investigator Shoal and landed at Rizal Reef. In response the Philippines lodged formal protests, demanded the removal of the structures, increased naval patrols in Kalayaan and issued invitations to American politicians to inspect the PRC bases by plane.

In the early 21st century, the situation is improving. China recently held talks with ASEAN countries aimed at realizing a proposal for a free trade area between the ten countries involved. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, commonly referred to as ASEAN, ˈɑːsiːɑːn AH-see-ahn in English (the Official language China and ASEAN also have been engaged in talks to create a code of conduct aimed at easing tensions in the disputed islands. On 5 March 2002, an agreement was reached, setting forth the desire of the claimant nations to resolve the problem of sovereignty "without further use of force". Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian moves from Antioch with an army of 90000 to attack the Sassanid Empire, in a See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. In November 2002, a Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea was signed, easing tensions but falling short of a legally-binding code of conduct.

Various Claims

Spratly islands map showing occupied features marked with the flags of countries occupying them. Click to enlarge.

People's Republic of China and Republic of China

In the Chinese view, the islands have been an integral part of China for nearly two thousand years and neighboring countries and European Powers took advantage of China's poor condition and diversity to impinge on its sovereignty.

China claims to have found the islands in the Han Dynasty in 2 BC. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National The Han Dynasty ( 206 BC–220 AD followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China. The islands were claimed to have been marked on maps compiled during the time of Eastern Han Dynasty and Eastern Wu (one of the Three Kingdoms). Eastern Wu ( Chinese: 東吳 Pinyin: Dōng Wú also known as Sun Wu ( Traditional Chinese: 孫吳 pinyin Sūn Wú refers to a The Three Kingdoms period ( is a period in the History of China, part of an era of disunity called the Six Dynasties following immediately the loss of Since the Yuan Dynasty, these islands have been labeled as Chinese territory in the 12th century,^[9] followed by the Ming Dynasty^[10] and the Qing Dynasty from the 13th to 19th Centuries. The Yuan Dynasty ( Pinyin: Yuáncháo Dai Ön Ulus (Дай Юан Улс was a ruling Dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai Not to be confused with Qin Dynasty, the first dynasty of Imperial China ^[11][12] In archaeological surveys the remains of Chinese pottery and coins have been found in the islands and are cited as proof for the Chinese claim. Chinese art ( Chinese: 中國藝術/中国艺术 has varied throughout its ancient history, divided into periods by the ruling Dynasties of China and changing ^[13].

From 1932 to 1935, the Republic of China continued to include the territory in their administrative area through the Map Compilation Committee. When France claimed 9 islands of the territory in 1933, it immediately encountered a revolt from Chinese fishermen and a protest from the Republic of China government in Nanking. Although the Republic of China continued to claim the islands, they were conquered by the Japanese Army in 1939. After the second world war, China reclaimed sovereignty over the islands through post World War II arrangements based on various treaties of the Allied Powers^[13] and a hoarstone was built on the islands by China. The Allies of World War II were the countries officially opposed to the Axis powers during the Second World War. In 1947, the government renamed 159 islands in the area.

In 1958, the People's Republic of China issued a declaration defining the Spratly Islands as its territorial waters. North Vietnam's prime minister, Pham Van Dong, sent a formal note to recognize these claims and stated that "The Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) respects this decision. " However this note is claimed to be void because the Spratly islands belonged to the South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) at that time. A year before the end of the Vietnam War the army of the South Vietnamese still held the majority of the Spratly islands and when North Vietnam unified Vietnam, it continued to claim the Spratly islands as an integral part of Vietnam. The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, or the Vietnam Conflict, occurred in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia Today, the troops of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China (Taiwan) respectively are stationed in several islands, including the biggest, Taiping island.

Philippines

While the Philippines' claim to the Spratly Islands was first expressed in the United Nations General Assembly in 1946, Philippine involvement in the Spratlys did not begin in earnest until 1956, when on 15 May Filipino citizen and admiral Tomas Cloma proclaimed the founding of a new state, Kalayaan (Freedom Land). Events 1252 - Pope Innocent IV issues the Papal bull Ad exstirpanda, which authorizes but also limits the Kalayaan is a 5th class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines.

Cloma’s Kalayaan encompassed fifty three features spread throughout the eastern South China Sea, including Spratly Island proper, Itu Aba, Pag-asa and Nam Yit Islands, as well as West York Island, North Danger Reef, Mariveles Reef and Investigator Shoal. The South China Sea is a Marginal sea south of China. It is a part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from Singapore to the West York Island or Likas Island (Likas; Đảo Dừa having an area of 18 Cloma then established a protectorate in July 1956 with Pag-asa as its capital and Cloma as “Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Kalayaan State”.

This action, although not officially endorsed by the Philippine government, was considered by other claimant nations as an act of aggression by the Philippines and international reaction was swift.

Taiwan, the PRC, South Vietnam, France, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands lodged official protests (the Netherlands on the premise that it considered the Spratly Islands part of Dutch New Guinea) and Taiwan sent a naval task force to occupy the islands and establish a base on Itu Aba, which it retains to the present day. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands

Tomas Cloma and the Philippines continued to state their claims over the islands; in October 1956 Cloma traveled to New York to plead his case before the United Nations and the Philippines had troops posted on three islands by 1968 on the premise of protecting Kalayaan citizens. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous In early 1971 the Philippines sent a diplomatic note on behalf of Cloma to Taipei demanding the ROC's withdrawal from Itu Aba and on 10 July in the same year Ferdinand Marcos announced the annexation of the 53 island group known as Kalayaan, although since neither Cloma or Marcos specified which fifty three features constituted Kalayaan, the Philippines began to claim as many features as possible. Events 48 BC - Battle of Dyrrhachium, Julius Caesar barely avoids a catastrophic defeat to Pompey in Macedonia. Ferdinand Emmanuel Edralín Marcos ( September 11, 1917 &ndash September 28, 1989) was President of the Philippines from 1965 to 1986 In April 1972 Kalayaan was officially incorporated into Palawan province and was administered as a single “poblacion” (township), with Tomas Cloma as the town council Chairman and by 1992, there were twelve registered voters on Kalayaan. The Philippines also reportedly attempted to land troops on Itu Aba in 1977 to occupy the island but were repelled by ROC troops stationed on the island. There were no reports of casualties from the conflict. In 2005, a cellular phone base station was erected by the Philippines' Smart Communications on Pag-asa Island. Smart Communications is the wholly-owned Mobile phone subsidiary of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT

The Philippines base their claims of sovereignty over the Spratlys on the issues of res nullius and geography. Res nullius (lit nobody's thing) is a Latin term derived from Roman law whereby res (objects in the legal sense anything that can The Philippines contend Kalayaan was res nullius as there was no effective sovereignty over the islands until the 1930s when France and then Japan acquired the islands. When Japan renounced their sovereignty over the islands in the San Francisco Peace Treaty in 1951, there was a relinquishment of the right to the islands without any special beneficiary. Therefore, argue the Philippines, the islands became res nullius and available for annexation. Philippine businessman Tomas Cloma did exactly that in 1956 and while the Philippines never officially supported Cloma's claim, upon transference of the islands’ sovereignty from Cloma to the Philippines, the Philippines used the same sovereignty argument as Cloma did. The Philippine claim to Kalayaan on geographical bases can be summarized using the assertion that Kalayaan is distinct from other island groups in the South China Sea because:

It is a generally accepted practice in oceanography to refer to a chain of islands through the name of the biggest island in the group or through the use of a collective name. Note that Spratly (island) has an area of only 13 hectares compared to the 22 hectare area of the Pag-asa Island. Distance-wise, Spratly Island is some 210 nm off Pag-asa Islands. This further stresses the argument that they are not part of the same island chain. The Paracels being much further (34. 5 nm northwest of Pag-asa Island) is definitely a different group of islands

A second argument used by the Philippines regarding their geographical claim over the Spratlys is that all the islands claimed by the Philippines lie within their archipelagic baselines, the only claimant who can make such a statement. The 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) stated that a coastal state could claim two hundred nautical miles of jurisdiction beyond its land boundaries. It is perhaps telling that while the Philippines is a signatory to UNCLOS, the PRC and Vietnam are not. The Philippines also argue, under Law of the Sea provisions, that the PRC can not extend its baseline claims to the Spratlys because the PRC is not an archipelagic state. Admiralty law (also referred to as maritime law) is a distinct body of Law which governs maritime questions and offenses Whether this argument (or any other used by the Philippines) would hold up in court is debatable but possibly moot, as the PRC and Vietnam seem unwilling to legally substantiate their claims and have rejected Philippine challenges to take the dispute to the World Maritime Tribunal in Hamburg. Hamburg (English, German: ˈhambʊɐk local pronunciation Low German / Low Saxon: Hamborg) is the second-largest city in Germany

In addition to the aforementioned, Sabah, a state of Malaysia, is being claimed by the Philippines under legal and historical bases. Sabah is a Malaysian state located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. For the biogeographical region see Malesia Malaysia (məˈleɪʒə or /məˈleɪziə/ is a country that consists of thirteen states and The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP (See Sabah dispute) So if the Philippines reclaimed Sabah, by default, Malaysia's claims to the Spratly Islands will be declared null, and it will be given to the Philippines, because Malaysia designated its claims to the Spratly Islands as a part of Sabah. The status of the territory of Sabah, previously known as North Borneo, is currently disputed between Malaysia and the Philippines.

Vietnam

Vietnam also claims the islands on historical grounds. Vietnamese geographical maps record Bãi Cát Vàng (Golden Sandbanks, referring to Spratly Islands) as Vietnamese territory as early as the 17th century. In Phủ Biên Tạp Lục by the scholar Lê Quý Đôn, Hoàng Sa (Paracel Islands), and Trường Sa (Spratly Islands) were defined as belonging to Quảng Ngãi District. The Paracel Islands are a group of small Islands and Reefs in the South China Sea administered by the People's Republic of China In Đại Nam Nhất Thống Toàn Đồ (Dai Nam Unified Map), an atlas of Vietnam completed in 1838, Trường Sa was shown as Vietnamese territory. Vietnam had conducted many geographical and resource surveys of the islands. The results of these surveys have been recorded in Vietnamese literature and history published since the 17th century. After the treaty signed with the Nguyen Dynasty, France represented Vietnam in international affairs and exercised sovereignty over the islands. The Nguyễn Dynasty (Nhà Nguyễn Hán Việt: Nguyễn triều 阮朝 was the last ruling family of Vietnam. On 7 July 1951, Tran Van Huu, head of the Bao Dai Government's delegation to the San Francisco Conference on the peace treaty with Japan declared that the archipelagoes of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa were part of Vietnamese territory. Events 1456 - A retrial verdict acquits Joan of Arc of heresy 25 years after her death Bảo Đại ( Hán tự: vi-nom [[wikt保 保]][[wikt大 大]] Nguyễn Phúc Vĩnh Thụy 22 October 1913 &ndash 30 July 1997 This declaration met with no challenge from the 51 representatives at the conference including delegates from both the People's Republic of China (mainland) and the Republic of China (Taiwan). After the French left, the Vietnamese government exercised sovereignty over the islands. Vietnam currently occupies 31 islands. They are organized as a district of Khanh Hoa Province. Khánh Hòa Province ( Hán tự: 慶[[wikt 和|和]] is a province of Vietnam, located in the South Central Coast. At the 12th National Assembly Election held early in Trường Sa, the people and soldiers also voted for their local district government for the first time. For the first time, Trường Sa is organized like a normal inland district, with a townlet (thị trấn Trường Sa) and two commnunes (xã Sinh Tồn, xã Song Tử Tây). Forty nine people were elected to the communes' people's councils.

Others

Malaysia, Brunei also claim parts of the islands.

Tabular listing of features showing country possessions

Occupied Features

A feature is occupied if by a country one of the following is true:

• Soldiers and/or civilian citizens of a country are present in the feature, either by building structures over the feature to house the citizens (most features are of this type) or by manning a ship anchored over the feature (Philippine-occupied Irving Reef is of this type).
• Regularly visited by soldiers of a country, not necessarily having soldiers present in it 24 hours. These features must lie near (within 9 miles (14 km)) a feature occupied by the country in the way of the first condition. Presence of structures is not necessary. This is the case of Philippine-occupied Flat Island and Lankiam Cay where soldiers stationed at Nanshan Island and Loaita Island respectively, regularly visit on a daily basis.

The effective visible distance of horizon from a 15 meter (typical large structure) height above sea-level is 9 miles (14 km). The horizon ( Ancient Greek ὁ ὁρίζων, /ho horídzôn/ from ὁρίζειν, "to limit" is the apparent line that separates This makes features occupied by the second condition to be also labeled as "occupied" since they can be guarded far away. However not all features within the 9-mile (14 km) radius can be considered as absolutely occupied. This is especially true for features that lie between and within 9 miles (14 km) of two or more features occupied by different countries. (See Virtually Occupied or Controlled table)

Republic of the Philippines

Int'l Name	Local Names	Description	Area (ha. )
Flat Island[14][15]	Patag[16] -lit. flat	The fourteenth largest Spratly island. About 6 miles (10 km) southwest of Philippine-occupied Lawak Island (Nanshan Island). It changes its shape seasonally. The sand build up will depend largely on the direction of prevailing wind and waves. It takes the shape of an elongated one for some years now and a shape like that of a crescent moon for few years ago and it formed the shape of a letter “S” in the past. Like Panata Island (Lankiam Cay), it is also barren of any vegetation. No underground water source is found in the island. Presently, this island serves only as a military observation post for the Municipality of Kalayaan. Kalayaan is a 5th class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. A low, flat, sandy cay, 240 by 90 m, subject to erosion. Has a nearby reef which is above water at high tide. With large guano deposits. No vegetation. Several soldiers stationed.	0. 57
	费信岛 費信島 Feixin Dao
	Đảo Bình Nguyên
Lankiam Cay[14][15]	Panata[16] -lit. oath	The fifteenth largest and the smallest Spratly island. An oath (from Anglo-Saxon āð, also called plight) is either a Promise or a Statement of Fact calling Located 8 miles (13 km) northeast of Philippine-occupied Kota Island (Lankiam Cay). A few years ago this island has a surface area of more than 5 hectares but strong waves brought by a strong typhoon washed out the sandy surface (beach) of the island leaving behind today the calcarenite foundation that can be seen at low tide. Several soldiers stationed. Part of Loaita Banks.	0. 44
	杨信沙洲 楊信沙洲 Yangxin Shazhou
	Cồn San Hô Lan Can
Loaita Island[14][15]	Kota[16] -lit. camp(kuta)	The tenth largest Spratly island. Located 22 miles (35 km) southeast of Philippine-occupied Pag-asa Island (Thitu Island) and 22 miles (35 km) north-northeast of Taiwan-occupied Itu Aba Island. It fringes the Laoita bank and reef. Its calcarenite outcrop is visible along its western side at low tide. The present shape of the island indicates sand buildup along its eastern side. The anchor-shaped side will eventually connect with the northern portion as the sand buildup continues thereby creating another mini-lagoon in the process. The presence of migrating sea birds adds to the high phosphorus contents of the sand found in the island. Occasionally, giant sea turtles are reported to be laying their eggs in the island. Covered with mangrove bushes, above which rose coconut palms and other small trees. Several soldiers stationed. Occupied since 1968. Part of Loaita Banks.	6. 45
	南钥岛 南鑰島 Nanyue Dao
	Đảo Loại Ta
Nanshan Island[14][15]	Lawak[16] -lit. vastness	The eighth largest Spratly island. Located 98. 0 miles (157. 7 km) east of Pag-asa (Thitu Island). This island is a bird sanctuary. Its surroundings are highly phosphatized that superphosphate materials can be mined out on a small-scale basis. Near the fringes of the breakwaters (approx. 2 miles (3 km) from the island), intact hard coral reefs were observed to retain their natural environment and beautiful tropical fishes were seen colonizing these coral beds of varying colors. Covered with coconut trees, bushes and grass. 580 m long, on the edge of a submerged reef. Several soldiers stationed. Has a small airstrip.	7. 93
	马欢岛 馬歡島 Mahuan Dao
	Đảo Vĩnh Viễn
Northeast Cay[14][15]	Parola[16] -lit. Northeast Cay or Parola Island (Parola; Đảo Song Tử Đôngis the fifth largest Spratly island and the third largest among Philippine-occupied Spratly lighthouse	The fifth largest Spratly island. A lighthouse is a Tower, building or framework designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or in older times from a fire and used as an Only 1. 75 miles (2. 82 km) north of Vietnamese-occupied Southwest Cay and can bee seen before the horizon. Located 28 miles (45 km) northwest of Philippine-occupied Pag-asa (Thitu Island). Some of its outcrops are visible on its western side. It has high salinity groundwater and vegetation limited to beach type of plants. The corals around the island were mostly destroyed by rampant use of dynamite fishing and cyanide method employed by foreign fishing boats in the past. Covered with grass and thick trees. Much of the ringing reef is above water at high tide. Supported a beacon in 1984. Has Guano deposits. Several soldiers stationed. Has an airstrip. Occupied since 1968. Part of North Danger Reef.	12. 7
	北子岛 北子島 Beizi Dao
	Đảo Song Tử Đông
Thitu Island[14][15]	Pag-asa[16] -lit. Thitu Island or Pagasa Island (Pagasa; Đảo Thị Tứ having an area of 37 hope	The second largest Spratly island. Serves as the poblacion for the Municipality of Kalayaan, Palawan, Phils. A poblacion, literally "town" in Spanish, is the name commonly used for the central Barangay or barangays of a Philippine city or Kalayaan is a 5th class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. It is covered with trees and has a variety of fauna. It is home to some 300+ civilians (including children) and over 50 soldiers. Other islands are expected to be populated before 2010. Population is regulated to protect the islands' flora and fauna and to avoid tension with other countries. It has 1. 4 km airstrip, a marina, water filtering plant, power generator and a commercial communications tower (by Smart Communications). An airport is a location where Aircraft such as airplanes, Helicopters and blimps take off and land For other uses of this word see Marina (disambiguation. A marina is a sheltered Harbor where Boats and Yachts Smart Telecom ( AIM:SMR is an Irish telecom operator that started as a phone card seller The Philippines' Department of Tourism is making improvements to the island to make it profitable. Occupied since 1968. Part of Thitu Reefs.	37. 2
	中业岛 中業島 Zhongye Dao
	Đảo Thị Tứ
West York Island[14][15]	Likas[16] -lit. West York Island or Likas Island (Likas; Đảo Dừa having an area of 18 natural or evacuate	The third largest Spratly island. Nature, in the broadest sense is equivalent to the natural world, physical universe, material world or material universe. This island is located 47 miles (76 km) northeast of Pag-asa (Thitu Island). Outcrops are visible on the southern and eastern portion of the island during low tides. This island is considered a sanctuary for giant sea turtles that lay their eggs on the island all year round. The high salinity of the ground water in the island retards the growth of introduced trees like coconuts, ipil-ipil, and other types. Only those endemic to the area that are mostly beach type of plants thrive and survive the hot and humid condition especially during the dry season. Has an observation post. Several soldiers stationed.	18. 6
	西月岛 西月島 Xiyue Dao
	Đảo Bến Lạc, Đảo Dừa
Commodore Reef[14][15]	Rizal[16] -after Jose Rizal	A sand "cay", 0. Dr José P Rizal (full name José Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda) (June 19 1861 – December 30 1896 was a Filipino Polymath, 5 m high, surrounded by two lagoons. Parts of reef above water at high tide. It is a typical reef lying underwater and is now being manned by a military contingent based and established in the area. Some structures. Several soldiers stationed. Occupied since 1978.	0
	司令礁 司令礁 Siling Jiao
	Đá Công Đo
	Terumbu Laksamana
Irving Reef[14]	Balagtas -after Francisco Balagtas	Naturally above water only at low tide. Francisco Baltazar ( April 2, 1788 &mdash February 20, 1862) known much more widely through his nom-de-plume Francisco A very small cay lies at northern end. Some structures. Several soldiers stationed.	0
	火艾礁 火艾礁　 Huo'ai Jiao
	Đảo Cá Nhám
Second Thomas Reef[17]	Ayungin[16] -after a native fish specie Leiopotherapon plumbeus	A shallow reef. AYUNGIN ( n a-yu-ngin) Leiopotherapon plumbeus Silver theraponid - English Size small ( 4 cm It is close to Chinese-occupied Mischief Reef. It was occupied by the Philippines in 1999, after the 1995 controversial Chinese occupation of Mischief Reef, to put pressure on China not to occupy any features further which lie near the Philippines.	0
Total		7 islands, 3 reefs	83. 89

Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Int'l Name	Local Names	Description	Area (ha. )
Amboyna Cay[14][15]	Kalantiaw[16] -after Datu Kalantiaw	The thirteenth largest Spratly island. Datu Kalantiaw (Rajah Bendahara Kalantiaw (sometimes spelled Kalantiao) is a mythical Filipino character was said to have created the first Two parts: East part consists of sand and coral, west part is covered with guano. Has fringing reef. An obelisk, about 2. 7 m high, stands on the SW corner. Little vegetation. Lighthouse operational since May 1995. Heavily fortified.	1. 6
	安波沙洲 Anbo Shazhou
	Đảo An Bang
	Pulau Amboyna Kecil
Namyit Island[14][15]	Binago[16] -lit. Namyit Island or Nam Yet Island (Binago; Đảo Nam Yết is an Island in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. changed or modified	The twelfth largest Spratly island. Covered with small trees, bushes and grass. Has a fringing reef and is inhabited by sea birds. The island is inhabited by an unknown number of Vietnamese soldiers and in the deep waters fronting the south side it is said that a submarine base is situated. Occupied since 1975. Part of Tizard Banks.	5. 3
	鸿庥岛 Hongxiu Dao
	Đảo Nam Yết
Sand Cay[14][15]	Bailan -lit. druid (babaylan)	The ninth largest Spratly island. A druid was a member of the priestly and learned class in the ancient Celtic societies Lies 6 miles (10 km) to the east of Taiwan-occupied Itu Aba Island. Covered with trees and bushes. Fringing reef partly above water at low tide. This feature is commonly confused with Sandy Cay. Occupied since 1974. Part of Tizard Banks.	7
	敦谦沙洲 Dunqian Shazhou
	Đảo /Đá Sơn Ca
Sin Cowe Island[14][15]	Rurok[16] -lit. Sin Cowe Island or Island (Rurok; Đảo Sinh Tồn is an Island in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. peak	The seventh largest. Has fringing reef which is above water at low tide. Occupied since 1974. Part of Union Banks.	8
	景宏岛 Jinghong Dao
	Đảo Sinh Tồn
Southwest Cay[14][15]	Pugad -lit. Southwest Cay or Pugad Island or Song Tu Tay Island (Pugad; Đảo Song Tử Tây is an Islet in the Spratly Islands. nest	The sixth largest Spratly island. A nest is a place of refuge to hold an animal's eggs and/or provide a place to raise their offspring Only 1. 75 miles (2. 82 km) from Northeast Cay and can be seen before the horizon. Previously a breeding place for birds and covered with trees and guano. Export of guano was once carried out "on a considerable scale. " Fringing reef partly above water at high tide. Vietnam erected its first lighthouse in the Spratlys here in October 1993 and built an airstrip. Has a three-story building, garrisoned by soldiers. Philippine military controlled the island before early 1980s. Vietnamese forces invaded the island when Filipino soldiers guarding the island attended the birthday party of their commanding officer based in the nearby Northeast Cay. A confirmed report came out that Vietnamese prostitutes were sent by Vietnamese officials to the birthday party, supposedly a sign of good brotherhood between the forces, but was actually used to lure the Filipino soldiers guarding the island. Filipino forces apparently planned on attacking the island, thus it would have led to a war, but Vietnamese forces were able to erect a huge garrison in the island within few weeks, forcing Filipino officials to abort the plan. Since then, more soldiers were assigned to Parola Island (North East Cay), to avoid it from happening again. This was confirmed by interviews with soldiers involved in an episode of the defunct ABS-CBN's Magandang Gabi Bayan (Good Evening Nation) program. ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation ( (ABS-CBN " A lto B roadcasting S ystem- C hronicle B roadcasting N etwork" See Policies, activities and history of the Philippines in Spratly Islands#Southwest Cay Invasion for more details. This article discusses the policies activities and history of the Republic of the Philippines in the Spratly Islands. Part of North Danger Reef.	12
	南子岛 Nanzi Dao
	Đảo Song Tử Tây
Spratly Island (proper)/ Storm Island[14][15]	Lagos -lit. passage	The fourth largest Spratly island. 2. 5 m high, flat. Covered with bushes, grass, birds and guano. 5. 5 m-high obelisk at southern tip. Has landing strip, and a fishing port. Fringing reef is above water at low tide. Some structures with soldiers stationed. Occupied since 1974.	13
	南威岛 Nanwei Dao
	Đảo Trường Sa
Alison Reef[14][15]	De Jesus[16]	Naturally above water only at low tide. Encloses a lagoon.	0
	六门礁 Liumen Jiao
	Bãi Tốc Tan
Barque Canada Reef/ Lizzie Weber Reef[14][15]	(Barque Canada Reef) Magsaysay -after Ramon Magsaysay	Coral. Ramon del Fierro Magsaysay ( August 31, 1907 - March 17, 1957) was the third President of the Third Republic of the Philippines Highest rocks are 4. 5 m high, at SW end. Much of reef is above water at high tide. Some sandy patches. 18 miles (29 km) long. Its military structures were recently upgraded. Occupied since 1987.	0
	(Lizzie Weber Reef) Mascarado -lit. masked
	柏礁 Bai Jiao
	Bãi Thuyền Chài
	Terumbu Perahu
Central London Reef[14][15]	Gitnang Quezon[16] -after Manuel Quezon, gitnang is central	SW part is a sandbank which barely submerges at high tide. Manuel Luis Quezon y Molina (b August 19, 1878 in Baler Aurora, Philippines - d The rest is coral reef, awash, surrounding a lagoon. Occupied since 1978. Part of London Reefs.	0
	中礁 Zhong Jiao
	Đảo Trường Sa Đông
Collins Reef/ Johnson North Reef[14]	鬼喊礁 Guihan Jiao	Lies 8 miles (13 km) southwest of Vietnam-occupied Sin Cowe Island. Connected to Johnson South Reef. A "coral dune" is located at the southeast corner, above the high tide line. Part of Union Banks.	0
	Đá Cô Lin
Cornwallis South Reef[14][15]	Osmeña -after President Sergio Osmeña	Naturally above water only at low tide. Sergio Osmeña ( September 9 1878 &ndash October 19 1961) was the fourth President of the Commonwealth of the Philippines Encloses a lagoon. Occupied since 1988.	0
	南华礁 Nanhua Jiao
	Đá Núi Le
Great Discovery Reef[14][15]	Paredes	Several rocks are above water at high tide. Most of reef is above water at low tide. Has lagoon. Occupied since 1988.	0
	大现礁 Daxian Dao
	Đá Lớn
East London Reef[14][15]	Silangang Quezon[16] -after Manuel Quezon, silangang is eastern	Rocks up to 1 m high. Manuel Luis Quezon y Molina (b August 19, 1878 in Baler Aurora, Philippines - d Encloses a lagoon. Occupied since 1988. Part of London Reefs.	0
	东礁 Dong Jiao
	Đá Đông
Grierson Reef[14]	Julian Felipe -after Julian Felipe, who composed the music for the Philippine National Anthem	A sand cay with fringing reef. Julian Felipe is the composer of the Philippine National anthem Lupang Hinirang. Lupang Hinirang is the National anthem of the Philippines. Its music was composed in 1898 by Julian Felipe, with lyrics in Spanish Some references tell that there exist a Sin Cowe East Island. This island may be Grierson Reef. It was probably called Sin Cowe East Island because it is located to the east of Sin Cowe Island and that its sand bar is visible during low tides, making it an island. Due to convention that an island must always be visible even at highest tides, Grierson Reef is not considered as an island in this list. Its sand bar area is about 12 hectares. A shoal or sandbar (also called sandbank) is a somewhat Linear Landform within or extending into a body of Water, Part of Union Banks.	0
	染青沙洲 Ranqing Shazhou
Grainger Bank[14]	李准滩 Lizhun Tan	Shallowest natural depth is either 9 m or 11 m. Occupied since 1989.	0
	Bãi Quế Đường
Higgens Reef[15]	屈原礁 Quyuan Jiao	Lies 6 miles (10 km) southeast of Vietnam-occupied Sin Cowe Island. Only above water at low tide. Part of Union Banks.	0
	Đá Hi Ghen, Đá Hi Gen
Ladd Reef[15]	日积礁 Riji Jiao	Naturally above water at low tide. Has coral lagoon. Occupied since 1988.	0
	Đá Lát
Lan(d)sdowne Reef[14][15]	Pagkakaisa -lit. unity	Sand dune, with fringing reef. UNITY is the theoretical political journal of Socialist Worker (Aotearoa, published quarterly in Auckland New Zealand since December 2005 Part of Union Banks.	0
	琼礁 Qiong Jiao
	Đá Len Đao
Pearson Reef[14][15]	Hizon[16]	Two sand "cays", 2 m and 1 m high, lie on the edges of a lagoon. Parts of the surrounding reef are above water at high tide. Occupied since 1988.	0
	毕生礁 Bisheng Jiao
	Đảo Phan Vinh
Petley Reef[14][15]	舶兰礁 Bolan Jiao	Naturally above water only at low tide, some small rocks might stand above high water. Occupied since 1988. Part of Tizard Banks.	0
	Đá Núi Thị
Pigeon Reef/ Tennent Reef[14][15]	无乜礁 Wumie Jiao	Numerous rocks are naturally above the high tide line. Encloses a lagoon. Occupied since 1988.	0
	Đá Tiên Nữ
Prince Consort Bank[14]	西卫滩 Xiwei Tan	Shallowest natural depth is 9 m. Occupied since 1989.	0
	Bãi Phúc Nguyên
Rifleman Bank (containing Bombay Castle)[14]	南薇滩 Nanwei Tan	Shallowest natural depth is 3 m, called Bombay Castle. Sand and coral. Occupied since 1989.	0
	Bãi Vũng Mây
South Reef[14][15]	Timog -lit. south	Lies about 2. South is one of Cardinal directions and is opposite to the North. 5 miles (4 km) southwest of Vietnam-occupied Soutwest Cay. A tiny cay appears atop this reef on the most detailed map available. On the southwest end of North Danger Reef. Fringing reef is above water at low tide. Occupied since 1988. Part of North Danger Reef.	0
	奈罗礁 Nailuo Jiao
	Đá Nam
Vanguard Bank[14]	万安滩 Wan'an Tan	Shallowest natural depth is 16 m. Vietnam has run two "economic technological service stations" in this area since July 1994. Occupied since 1989.	0
	Bãi Tư Chính
West London Reef[14][15]	Kanlurang Quezon[16] -after Manuel Quezon, kanlurang is western	East part is sand "cay", 0. Manuel Luis Quezon y Molina (b August 19, 1878 in Baler Aurora, Philippines - d 6 m high. West part is coral reef which is above water only at low tide. Between them is a lagoon. Vietnam erected a lighthouse here in May or June 1994. Part of London Reefs.	0
	西礁 Xi Jiao
	Đá Tây
Total		6 islands, 17 reefs, 3 banks	46. 9

Republic of China (Taiwan)

Int'l Name	Local Names	Description	Area (ha. )
Itu Aba Island[14][15]	Ligaw[16]/Ligao -lit. Itu Aba Island or Taiping Island (Ligaw/Ligao; Đảo Ba Bình is the largest of the Spratly Islands (Nansha Islands in the South China Sea. courtship, lost or wild	The largest of the Spratly islands. Courtship is the traditional dating period before engagement and marriage Located about 22 miles (35 km) south-southwest of Philippine-occupied Loiata (Kota) Island and about 6 miles (10 km) west of Vietnam-occupied Sand Cay. Covered with shrubs, coconut and mangroves. 600 soldiers stationed, lighthouse, radio and weather stations, concrete landing jetty and two wells at the SW end. Guano deposits, fringing reef. Hainan fishermen used to visit annually. In 8/93, plans were announced for a 2 km-long airstrip and a fishing port. The now only 1150-meters-long airstrip was completed in January 2008. [18] Pineapple was once cultivated here. Occupied since September 1956, four months after Filipino Tomas Cloma claimed the islands. Filipinos or the Filipino people are the citizens of the Philippines. Part of Tizard Banks.	46
	太平岛 Taiping Dao
	Đảo Ba Bình
Ban Than Reef[14]	中洲礁 Zhong Zhou Jiao	Lies 3 miles (5 km) east of Itu-Aba Island and 3 miles (5 km) west of Vietnamese occupied Sand Cay. Small drying reef. Occupied since 1995. Part of Tizard Banks.	0
	Bãi Bàn Than
Total		1 island, 1 reef	46

Malaysia

Int'l Name	Local Names	Description	Area (ha. )
Swallow Reef/ Island[14][15]	Celerio -after Levi Celerio	The eleventh largest Spratly island. Swallow Reef, known as Layang-Layang Island ( Dusun for Place of Swallows) in Malaysia, Danwan Jiao ( Chinese: 弹丸礁 Levi Celerio ( April 30, 1910 - April 2, 2002) was a Filipino composer and lyricist who was born Treeless cay and rocks up to 3 m high surround a lagoon. Malaysia has drawn territorial seas around this and Amboyna Cay. Some 70 plus soldiers stationed here maintain a beacon. Has a fishing port and a 15-room diving resort, including a 1. 5 km airstrip. Present land mass is reclaimed, making it the first artificial island in Spratly. An artificial island is an Island that has been constructed by humans rather than formed by natural means Occupied since 1983.	6. 2
	Đá Hoa Lau
	弹丸礁 Danwan Jiao
	Terumbu Layang Layang
Ardesier Reef[14][15]	Antonio Luna[16] -after Antonio Luna	Naturally above water only at low tide. Antonio Luna y Novicio ( October 29, 1866 - June 5, 1899) was a Filipino Pharmacist and general who fought Encloses a lagoon. Has a few sandy patches. Several soldiers stationed. Occupied since 1986.	0
	安渡滩 Andu Tan
	Bãi Kiêu Ngựa
	Terumbu Ubi
Dallas Reef[14]	Rajah Matanda -after Rajah Matanda	Naturally above water only at low tide. Encloses a lagoon. Several soldiers stationed. Malaysia is also using this reef for tourism.	0
	光星礁 Guangxing Jiao
	Terumbu Laya
Erica Reef/ Enloa Reef[19]	Gabriela Silang[16] -after Gabriela Silang	Above water only at low tide. María Josefa Gabriela Cariño Silang ( March 19, 1731 - September 29, 1763) was the first Filipino woman to lead a revolt during the Some isolated rocks on the eastern edge stand above high water.	0
	Boji Jiao
	Terumbu Siput
Investigator Shoal[19]	Pawikan[16] -lit. sea turtle	Above water only at low tide. Sea turtles ( Superfamily Chelonioidea) are Turtles found in all the world's oceans except the Arctic Ocean. Some large rocks at the western end are visible at high water. Encloses a lagoon.	0
	Yuya Jiao
	Bãi Thám Hiểm
	Terumbu Peninjau
Louisa Reef[14]	南通礁 Nantong Jiao	Rocks 1 m high. Malaysia operates a lighthouse here.	0
	Terumbu Semarang/ Barat Kecil
Mariveles Reef[14][15]	Mariveles -after Mariveles, Bataan, the starting point of Bataan Death March	A sand cay, 1. Mariveles is a 1st class municipality in the province of Bataan, Philippines. The Bataan Death March (also known as The Death March of Bataan) took place in the Philippines in 1942 and was later accounted as a Japanese war 5-2 m high, surrounded by two lagoons, parts of which are above water at high tide. Several soldiers stationed. Occupied since 1986.	0
	南海礁 Nanhai Jiao
	Bãi /Đá Kỳ Vân
	Terumbu Mantanani
Total		1 artificial island, 5 reefs, 1 shoal	6. 2

People's Republic of China

Int'l Name	Local Names	Description	Area (ha. )
Cuarteron Reef[14][15]	Calderon	Coral rocks only. Highest are 1. 5 m high, on the north. Occupied since 1988. Part of London Reefs.	0
	华阳礁 Huayang Jiao
	Bãi /Đá Châu Viên
Fiery Cross Reef/ Northwest Investigator Reef[14][15]	Kagitingan -lit. valor	Rocks up to 1 m high. All below at high tide, but has guano deposits. PRC built a navy harbor by blasting, piling up and cementing coral, but says no soldiers stationed here. 8,080 square meters, 14 miles (23 km) long, with airstrip. "Marine observation station" built in 1988; coconut, fir, and banyan trees planted. Actually 3 reefs. Occupied since 1988.	0
	永暑礁 Yongshu Jiao
	Đá Chữ Thập
Gaven Reefs[14][15]	Burgos -after GOMBURZA	A sand dune, 2 m high. Has fringing reef plus a reef 2 miles (3 km) to the south, both covered at high tide. Now all cement and a raised metal frame, with two-story buildings placed on top. Southern reef was occupied by PRC on 7/4/92. Occupied since 1988. Part of Tizard Banks.	0
	南薰礁 Nanxun Jiao (Northern reef) / Xinan or Duolu Jiao (S. reef)
	Đá Ga Ven
Hughes Reef[15]	东门礁 Dongmen Jiao (Hughes)	Lies 9 miles (14 km) to the east of Sin Cowe Island. Naturally above water at least at low tide. Occupied since 1988. Part of Union Banks.	0
Johnson South Reef[14][15]	Mabini -after Apolinario Mabini	Contiguous with Vietnam-occupied Collins Reef which lies 4 miles (6 km) away northwest. Naturally above water only at low tide, but [9] says many rocks above water at high tide. Site of 1988 PRC/Vietnam clash. Occupied since 1988. Part of Union Banks.	0
	赤瓜礁 Chigua Jiao
	Đá Gạc Ma
Mischief Reef[14][15]	Panganiban[16]	Some rocks above water at low tide. Has a lagoon. In February 1995, PRC had built a wooden complex on stilts here, starting its formal occupation of the feature. In 1999, the Philippines protested over this structures claiming that it is a military outpost and it poses danger to Philippine security and national defense, being 130 miles (209 km) from Palawan. PRC claims it is a shelter for fishermen.	0
	美济礁 Meiji Jiao
	Đá Vành Khăn
Subi Reef[14][15]	Zamora -after GOMBURZA	Lies 16 miles (26 km) southwest of Philippine-occupied Thitu Island (Pagasa Island). Naturally above water only at low tide. Surrounds a lagoon. PRC has constructed 3-story buildings, wharfs, and a helipad here.	0
	渚碧礁 Zhubi Dao
	Đá Su Bi
Whitson Reef[14]	牛轭礁 Niu'e Jiao	Some rocks naturally above water at high tide. Part of Union Banks.	0
	Đá Ba Đầu
Total		8 reefs	0

Virtually Occupied or Controlled

An unoccupied feature that lies within 9 miles (14 km) radius of an occupied feature, provided that it does not lie between the occupied feature and another occupied feature controlled by a different country and is not within 9 miles (14 km) of the feature occupied by the other country, can be considered as virtually occupied. 9 miles (14 km) is the effective horizon distance that can be seen from a 15 meter high structure. The nearer the feature, the better.

While virtually occupied features are not actual occupied features (e. g. , no structures built and no soldiers are stationed or regularly visits), they are on the other hand largely controlled. If a naval vessel of another country was seen within the effective horizon of a feature and in an inconvenient direction, it can be taken as a military assault. Thus, the forces occupying the feature may attack the vessel. Claimant countries currently cannot upgrade the status of these virtually occupied features to absolutely occupied because other countries may view this as an expansion motive which clearly violates the Code of Conduct signed in 2002. Also, making the virtually occupied to absolutely occupied requires building of structures which will serve as barracks of new soldiers who will guard it. Building of structures in unoccupied (including virtually occupied) features is prohibited by the Code of Conduct.

Note that most virtually occupied features are by the Philippines. Vietnam in the past, prior to signing of the Code of Conduct, have acquired many features as much as it can. As of now, it has a total of 26 occupied features. Whenever it occupied a feature in the past, it immediately occupies features which are near to it. Example of this is South Reef which Vietnam immediately occupied after it successfully invaded Southwest Cay. Thus, no feature has been virtually controlled by Vietnam since it always occupy features which it can see within its horizon. Also, Vietnam's occupied features in Tizard and Union Banks are near other countries' occupied features. Hence, many unoccupied features near to Vietnam's occupied features in these banks also lie near other countries' occupied features. As for Malaysia, it only occupied reefs at the southern tip of the Spratly chain where features are dispersed. No other features can be found within the horizon of Malaysian-occupied features.

Virtually Occupied and Controlled

Virtually Occupied by the Philippines
Int'l Name	Local Names	Description	Area (ha. )
Loaita Cay	Nanyao Shazhou	Lies 1. 5 miles (2 km) south-northeast of Philippine-occupied Loaita Island. Actually, it is between two Philippine-occupied islands, the other being Lankiam Cay, but is nearer to Loita Island. A sand cay, with fringing reef naturally above water at high tide. This feature is commonly confused with Lankiam Cay. Not to be confused with Loaita Island. Part of Loiata Banks.	??
	Bãi Loại Ta
Loaita Nan/ Loaita Southwest Reef	Shuanghuang Shazhou	Lies 5 miles (8 km) northwest of Philippine-occupied Loaita Island. Nearest feature occupied by other country is Subi Reef, occupied by China, lies 30 miles (48 km) northwest. Never above water. Part of Loaita Banks.	0
	Bãi Loại Ta Nam
North Reef	Hilaga -lit. north	Lies 1. This is about the direction for other uses see North (disambiguation. 5 miles (2 km) northest of Philippine-occupied Northest Cay (Parola Island). Nearest feature occupied by other country is Southwest Cay, occupied by Vietnam, lies 3. 5 miles (6 km) southwest. Because it is Northeast Cay which lies between Southwest Cay and North Reef, North Reef became virtually occupied by the Philippines. At NE end of North Danger Reef. Naturally above water only at low tide. The Philippines once considered building a long airstrip over this feature to ease transportation to Northeast Cay. Northeast Cay is only 12. 7 hectares and it doesn't have a large coral base. This is unlike Pagasa Island (Thitu Island) were a long airstrip had been constructed adjacent to the island by reclaiming portions of Pagasa's large coral base. Hence, the Philippines cannot build a long airstrip in Northeast Cay, forcing them to consider building it in North Reef. However, though virtually occupied, they cannot build such airstrip in North Reef because the Code of Conduct prohibits it. Part of North Danger Reef.	0
	Dongbei Jiao
Sandy Cay/ Extension Reef	Tiexian Jiao	Lies 5 miles (8 km) west of Philippine-occupied Thitu Island (Pagasa Island). Nearest feature occupied by other country is Subi Reef, occupied by China, lies 13 miles (21 km) southwest. A low sand cay; fringing reef above water at high tide.	??
Virtually Occupied China
Int'l Name	Local Names	Description	Area (ha. )
Kennan Reef	西门礁 Ximen Jiao (Kennan)	Lies just 1 mile (2 km) west of PRC-occupied Hughes Reef. Nearest features occupied by other country is Vietnam-occupied Sin Cowe Island and Higgens Reef, both lies about 9 miles (14 km) west and southwest respectively. Because China is very near compared to Vietnam, Kennan Reef became virtually occupied by China. It actually causes many references to be confused on which feature between Hughes and Kennan is actually occupied by China. Naturally above water at least at low tide.	0
	Đá Ken Nan

Unoccupied Features

Unoccupied but Largely Controlled by the Philippines

The reefs, shoals, etc. to the east of the 116°E meridian are closely guarded by the Philippine Navy and Air Force. The Philippine Navy ( PN) is the naval arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines ( AFP) The Philippine Air Force (PAF is the Air force of the Republic of the Philippines, and one of the three main services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Though not occupied, the Philippines undeniably has control over these features which are less 100 miles (160 km) from the Palawan west coast (note: Scarborough Shoal is 100 miles (160 km) from Zambales west coast). Palawan is an Island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region. Scarborough Shoal or Panatag Shoal ( Philippine name Panatag Shoal Chinese name 黃岩島 Huangyan Dao more correctly described as a group of islands For the mountain chain see Zambales Mountains. For the ethnic group see Sambal people. There are many Filipino fishermen in this region, who cooperate closely with the Philippine Navy. Filipinos or the Filipino people are the citizens of the Philippines. Non-Filipino fishermen are tolerated in this region, provided that they comply with Philippine laws. The press in the Philippines have reported many arrests of Chinese fishermen by the Philippine Navy because of illegal fishing methods and catching of endangered sea species, both in this region and in the Sulu Sea. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National The Sulu Sea is a large sea in the southwestern area of the Philippines. Philippine military presence in this region intensified after the 1995 Mischief Reef incident. The Philippine Air Force has been active in striking even the markers set up by other countries to guide the latter's naval forces in this region.
Int'l Name	Local Names	Description	Area (ha. )
Amy Douglas Reef or Baker Reef	Mahiwagang Diwata -lit. mystical goddess	Lies north of Palawan Passage. Awash at low tide.	0
	Gongzhen Jiao
Bombay Shoal	Abad Santos[16] -after Jose Abad Santos	Several rocks are exposed at low tide. For the municipality in the Philippines see Jose Abad Santos Davao del Sur. Surrounds a lagoon.	0
	蓬勃暗沙 Pengbo Ansha
Boxall Reef	Rajah Soliman -after Rajah Soliman	Above water only at low tide. Rajah Sulayman (سليمان in Arabic was a Muslim Tribal chief.	0
	Niuchelun Jiao
Brown Reef	Kayumanggi -lit. brown		0
Carnadic Shoal			0
Director Shoal	Tamban		0
First Thomas Reef	Bulig[16] -lit. Black, when used as a general term is a color that is a Very dark Black, black, or Black, of low Luminance relative to mudfish	A few rocks are permanently above sea level. Mudfish may refer to any of many different fishes including In New Zealand and Australia Neochanna species Soldiers from nearby Second Thomas Reef, as well as Filipino fisherfolks, visit this reef daily to fish. Much of the reef is above water at low tide. Encloses a lagoon.	0
	Xinyi Jiao
	Bãi Suối Ngà
Ganges Reef	Palma -after Jose Palma, who wrote the lyrics for the Philippine National Anthem		0
Glasgow Bank	Aguinaldo -after Emilio Aguinaldo	Some sources say this area is occupied by the Philippines due to its proximity to the Commodore Reef. Lupang Hinirang is the National anthem of the Philippines. Its music was composed in 1898 by Julian Felipe, with lyrics in Spanish For the municipality see Gen Emilio Aguinaldo Cavite General Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy ( March 22, 1869 &ndash February 6	0
Half Moon Shoal	Hasahasa[16]	Several rocks on the eastern side rise one to two feet above high tide. Encloses a lagoon.	0
	Banyue Jiao
	Bãi Trăng Khuyết
Hardy Reef	Banlu Jiao	Naturally above water only at low tide. Surrounds a narrow strip of sand.	0
Hopkins Reef			0
Investigator Northeast Shoal	Dalagang Bukid	Lies just a few miles west of Palawan. Naturally above water at low tide.	0
Iroquois Reef	Del Pilar -after Marcelo Del Pilar	Located east of both Philippine-occupied Nanshan Island and Flat Island. Above water only at low tide.	0
	Houteng Jiao
Leslie Bank			0
Lord Auckland Shoal	Lapu-Lapu -after Lapu-Lapu or probably after a native fish in the Philippines		0
Lys Shoal	Bisugo		0
Northeast Shea			0
Pennsylvania North Reef			0
Pennsylvania South Reef			0
Reed Tablemount (including Nares Bank and Marie Louise Bank)	Recto[16] -after Claro Recto	Shallowest natural depth is 9 m. Lapu-Lapu is also the name of the Grouper fish in the Philippines Fish are aquatic Vertebrate animals that are typically ectothermic (previously Cold-blooded) covered with scales, and equipped with two Politician Claro M Recto launched his political career as a legal adviser to the first Philippine Senate in 1916 About 2,500 square miles (6,500 km²) in area. The Philippines occupied this feature in 1971 and a Philippine-Sweden joint oil-exploration followed afterwards. [14] However, China protested this act of the Philippines saying that this tablemount which center lies 100 miles (160 km) from the Philippines is part of China's territories. After that, the Philippines tried asking China for a joint effort but China declined arguing that the Philippines has no right in this feature. Presently, this feature is largely controlled by the Philippines.	0
	Bãi Cỏ Rồng
Royal Captain Shoal	Kanduli[16] -a sea catfish specie	A few rocks are above water at low tide. Surrounds a lagoon.	0
	Jiangzhang Ansha
Sabina Shoal	Escoda -after Josefa Llanes Escoda	It encloses two lagoons, naturally above water at low tide. Josefa Llanes Escoda ( September 20, 1898 &ndashc January 6, 1945) was a well-known Lies east of the Philippine-occupied Second Thomas Reef.	0
Sandy Shoal	Mabuhangin -lit. sandy		0
Scarborough Shoal	Panatag -lit. Scarborough Shoal or Panatag Shoal ( Philippine name Panatag Shoal Chinese name 黃岩島 Huangyan Dao more correctly described as a group of islands worry-free or calm	Not actually part of Spratly Island group. It is farther north, about 100 miles (160 km) from Palauig, Zambales, Philippines. Palauig is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Zambales, Philippines. Several rocks up to 3 m high. Much of the reef is just below water at high tide. Encloses a lagoon. Near the mouth of the lagoon are the ruins of an iron tower, 8. 3 m high. Its status is disputed. Though the Philippine Navy maintains an active presence in this area, even building a small structural outpost here, many references still say that it is unoccupied. The Philippines is tightly guarding the area for fear of another Chinese structure to be erected here, just like what happened in Mischief Reef. Many Chinese fishermen were already arrested in this area because of illegal fishing methods and catching of endangered sea species.	0
	Huang Yen Tao
Seashore Shoal	Baybayin Dagat -lit. seashore	Lies north of Palawan Passage	0
Stag Shoal			0
Southern Bank/Reef	Katimugan -lit. southern	A group of features located south of Reed Tablemount. The reef includes: Magat Salamat, Tagpi, Hubo Reef, and Katimugan Banks/Reef. The area is largely controlled and used by the Philippines due to its proximity to Flat Island and Nanshan Island, where several Philippine soldiers are stationed. The reef serves as a rich fishing ground for fisherfolks in Kalayaan, Palawan.	0
Templar Bank	Dalag[16] -lit. mudfish		0
Trident Shoal	Tatlong-tulis -lit. Mudfish may refer to any of many different fishes including In New Zealand and Australia Neochanna species three sharp points or trident itself		0
Viper North Shoal	Maya-maya		0
Viper Shoal	Tomas Claudio		0

Not Occupied by any Country

These are the unoccupied features. Some sources say that some of these features are occupied by Vietnam or China but most sources, including the latest, say that they are not occupied. Occupation are probably confused because the said reefs are very close to occupied features. There are many unoccupied features in the Spratly chain. The current Code of Conduct prohibits any country from acquiring new features. Many of these features are actually in between and near two or more occupied features of different countries. Thus, they serve like buffer zones. In geography a buffer zone is any zonal area that serves the purpose of keeping two or more other areas (often but not necessarily countries) distant from one another Example of this is Jones Reef which lies almost exactly between PRC-occupied Hughes Reef and Vietnamese-occupied Higgens Reef.
Int'l Name	Local Names	Description	Area (ha. )
Alicia Anne Reef	Arellano[16]	A sand "cay", 1. 2 m high. Many rocks above high tide line.	0
	Xian'e Jiao
	Đá Suối Ngọc
Discovery Small Reef	Gomez -after GOMBURZA	Above water only at low tide.	0
	小现礁 Xiaoxian Jiao
	Đá Nhỏ
Edmund Reef	南门礁 Nanmen Jiao	Lies 4 miles (6 km) east of Vietnam-occupied Sin Cowe Island and 4 miles (6 km) west of Kennan Reef. Part of Union Banks.	0
Eldad Reef	Malvar -after Miguel Malvar	Only a few large rocks are naturally above water at high tide. Miguel Malvar y Carpio ( September 27, 1865 - October 13, 1911) was a Filipino commander who served during the Philippine Revolution Part of Tizard Banks.	0
	Anda Jiao
	Beting Burgai
Hallet Reef	安乐礁 Anle Jiao	Lies 1 mile (2 km) to the northeast of Hughes Reef. Part of Union Banks.	0
Holiday Reef	Changxian Jiao	Above water only at low tide. Part of Union Banks.	0
Hopps Reef	Diego Silang -after Diego Silang	Above water only at low tide. Diego Silang y Andaya ( December 16, 1730 - May 28, 1763) was raised as an Ilocano; his father was Pangasinense. Part of Southampton Reefs.	0
	Lusha Jiao
	Đá Hop
Jackson Atoll	Quirino -after Elpidio Quirino	Four or five portions are above water at low tide. Elpidio Rivera Quirino ( November 16, 1890 &ndash February 29, 1956) was the sixth President of the Philippines. Encloses a lagoon.	0
	Wufan(g) Jiao
Jones Reef	漳溪礁 Zhangxi Jiao	Lies 5 miles (8 km) south of Kennan Reef. Small reef, partly above water only at low tide. Part of Union Banks.	0
Livock Reef	(NE part) Jacinto Reef -after Emilio Jacinto	Above water only at low tide. Emilio Jacinto ( December 15, 1875 - April 16, 1899) was a Filipino Revolutionary known as the Brains of the Some rocks still visible at high tide. Part of Southampton Reefs.	0
	(SW part) Bonifacio Reef -after Andres Bonifacio
	Sanjiao Jiao
Menzies Reef	Lakandula[16] -after Rajah Lakandula	Awash at low tide. Andrés Bonifacio y de Castro ( November 30, 1863 &ndash May 10, 1897) son of Santiago Bonifacio and Catalina de Castro was a Filipino Rajah Lakandula) or Lakan Dula ( Lakan Part of Loaita Bank.	0
	Mengzi Jiao
	Đá Men Di
Owen Shoal	Aoyuan Ansha	Shallowest natural depth is 6 m.	0
Prince of Wales Bank	Guangya Tan	Shallowest natural depth is 7 m. Has corals.	0
	Bãi Phúc Tần
Tieshi Jiao	Tieshi Jiao	Above water only at low tide. Located northeast of Thitu Island and unnamed on most maps. Part of Thitu Reefs	0

Claimed Features by Country but Occupied by other Country

Claimed Features by Country but Occupied by other Country

Only China, Taiwan and Vietnam claim all of the Spratly Island Chain, including some features that are just 50 km from other countries like the Philippines and Malaysia. However, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei all have partial claims only. Here are the islands claimed but are not occupied by these three countries (flags refer to the country currently occupying the feature):

Philippines: Itu Aba Island , Amboyna Cay , Namyit Island , Sand Cay , Sin Cowe Island , Sin Cowe East Island , Southwest Cay , Spratly Island Proper , Pigeon Reef , South Reef , Ardasier Reef , Erica Reef , Investigator Shoal , Mariveles Reef , Swallow Reef/Island , Mischief Reef , Subi Reef and all of features to the east of the 116°E meridian (unoccupied) (see Unoccupied but Largely Controlled by the Philippines subtable).

Malaysia: Amboyna Cay , Barque Canada Reef , Commodore Reef and Royal Charlotte Reef (unoccupied)

Brunei: Rifleman Bank , Louisa Reef and Owen Shoal (uncertain)

20th century timeline

Notes

References

• Spick, Mike. Dangerous Ground!, Air Forces Monthly, December 1993

See also

• Kingdom of Humanity
• South China Sea Islands
• Paracel Islands
• Junk Keying
• Policies, activities and history of the Philippines in Spratly Islands
• Kalayaan, Palawan, Philippines
• Zheng He
• Crysis, a computer game set on the Spratly Islands. Air Forces Monthly is a military aviation magazine published by Key Publishing, based in Stamford, United Kingdom. The Kingdom of Humanity, surrounded by the Humanity Sea, a Micronation, was a kingdom in the Spratly Islands established in 1878 by The South China Sea Islands (or Nanhai Islands, simplified: 南海诸岛 traditional: 南海諸島 Pinyin: Nánhǎi Zhūdǎo consist of over The Paracel Islands are a group of small Islands and Reefs in the South China Sea administered by the People's Republic of China New York visit The Keying was the first ship from China to visit New York This article discusses the policies activities and history of the Republic of the Philippines in the Spratly Islands. Kalayaan is a 5th class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. Zheng He ( Birth name 馬三寶 / 马三宝; Arabic / Persian name حجّي محمود شمس Hajji Mahmud Shams) (1371&ndash1433 was a Hui CRYSIS is an acronym for CRY ogenic S tockholm I on S ource CRYSIS is an Ion source of EBIS type and is located in Stockholm
• SSN, a computer game set during a conflict over the Spratly Islands. Tom Clancy's SSN is a simulation of the 688i ( Los Angeles-class) nuclear hunter/killer Submarine.
• List of islands in the South China Sea
• Rockall

External links

• Spratly Islands travel guide from Wikitravel
• Mariner's page of the Spratly Islands
• Taiwanese List with ~170 entries
• List of atolls with areas
• Satellite images of all islands and reefs of the Spratly Islands.
• Flags of the World (FOTW) entry with various micronations on the Spratly Islands. Islands in the South China Sea includes the South China Sea Islands (Spratly Islands Pratas Islands Paracel Islands and Macclesfield Bank islands on the China coast on the Rockall is a small uninhabited rocky Islet in the north Atlantic Ocean, and one of the sea areas named in the Shipping Forecast broadcast on BBC Wikitravel is a Web -based project "to create a free, complete up-to-date and reliable worldwide travel guide. Micronations &mdash sometimes also referred to as model countries and new country projects &mdash are entities that resemble independent Nations or
• Map showing the claims
• A tabular summary about the Spratly and Paracel Islands
• Another overview table of the Spratly Islands
• CIA World Factbook for Spratly Islands
• Vietnamese claimsPDF (1. 70 MiB), from Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• The Dotted Line on the Chinese Map of the South China Sea: A NotePDF (150 KiB)
• Third Party Summary of the Dispute
• Some coordinate points of reefs
• Google Map of Spratly Islands
• Wikimedia Atlas of the Spratly Islands
• Ji Guoxing (October 1995). A mebibyte (a contraction of me ga bi nary byte) is a unit of Information or Computer storage, abbreviated MiB. A kibibyte (a contraction of ki lo bi nary byte) is a unit of Information or Computer storage, established by the International "Maritime Jurisdiction in the Three China Seas: Options For Equitable Settlement" (PDF). . Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation