The Spratly Islands which consists of more than 100 reefs, islets and islands, occupies less than five square kilometers, and spread over more than 400,000 square kilometers of sea, located between the Philippines and Vietnam, in the area of the South China Sea.

The Spratly Islands, regarded as part of the great sweep of archipelago of Southeast Asia consisting of more than 30,000 and which so complicates geography, governance, and economics in the region. Considering the size of Spratly Islands and its geographical location makes it less interesting. But considering these islands as territorial markers rather than a place of habitation may be more important.

Native islanders don’t occupy the place, even though abundant fishing grounds surrounds the area. Initial surveys indicate that the islands may contain oil and gas, which makes it a much bigger reason why the other countries are claiming it.

“The Spratly Islands, a string of rocky outcrops in the South China Sea possibly holding large oil and gas deposits, are also claimed by neighboring Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines“; as said by thepeninsulaqatar.com.

Approximately 45 islands occupied by relatively small numbers of military forces from China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Brunei established a fishing zone which overlaps the southern reef, but does not directly made any formal claim. The Spratly Islands 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.

Claims of the Spratly Islands proved its worth the the countries involved, owing the history behind it as described by globalsecurity.

“Today the Spratlys are again a hot item in the Philippine news because of the 2005 Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking the Philippines had with China and Vietnam, both claimants too; and because of the question whether or not this had anything to do with the scrapped controversial ZTE national broadband network deal with China that has been rocking the political landscape in the past months“; as said by inquirer.net.

Political issue within the Philippines or even internationally makes Spratly Islands more controversial than before. For updates on articles in this site you can subscribe for free via email or by rss feeds.

Have to say:

• Do you think that spratly really belongs to the Philippines?
• Should we need other countries to harness Spratly’s resources or the government should invest on doing it?

Click Bloggers Guide for more topics/videos, or visit Pinoy Maritime Forum.