SPARTLYS ISLANDS

The spratly islands are group of more than 100 islets, reefs, cays, shoals, etc. in the south china sea.

Sovereign in the region is claimed entirely by china , Taiwan, Vietnam, and partly by

the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei.

The land area is less than 5km² scattered over an area of nearly 410,000km²

The largest to smallest islands occupied and controlled by the claimant countries.

1.Thitu Island- Philippines2.West York Island-

Philippines3.Itu Aba Island- Taiwan4.Spratly Island Prop.-

Vietnam5.Northeast Cay-

Philippines

6. South West Cay- Vietnam

7. Sin Cowe Island- Vietnam

8. Nanshan Island- Philippines

9. Sand Cay- Vietnam10. Loaita Island-

Philippines

11. Swallow Reef – Malaysia

12. Namyit Island – Vietnam

13.Amboyna Cay- Vietnam

14.Flat Island-Philippines15.Lankiam Cay-

Philippines

Vietnam occupies 26 features followed by Philippines 10, China 8, Malaysia 7 and Taiwan with

2. Brunei has none.

The Reefs, Shoals, etc. to the east of the 116E meridian are closely guarded by the Philippine Navy

and Air Force.

In 1975, Vietnamese troops invaded the Philippine occupied Southwest Cay reducing Philippines hold of

8 to 7 islands

China’s occupation of mischief reef in 1994 prompted the Phil. Station soldiers on nearby second

Thomas Reef

Together with Commodore Reef, the two reefs serves as blockade to stop the occupation of features

nearest to the Philippines

Philippines claim the Spratly Islands is known to be the Kalayaan Group of islands

Filipino discoverer admiral Tomas Cloma preclaimed the establishment of a new state called freedomland (Kalayaan) on May 1956

On June 11 1978 Kalayaan became a municipality of Palawan with a lone barangay called Pagasa disignated as the town proper

The Town Proper is on Pagasa Island (Thitu Island)

Pagasa land has a 1.3km air strips and telecommunication

With a population of 300 + civilians (including

children ) and over 50 soldiers.

Population are regulated to protect the islands' flora and fauna and so that not to make any tension with

other countries.

Philippine Air Force C-130 on Pagasa Island

And Philippines flag navy ship. to disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) waters amid rising tensions with Beijing over their competing claims.

Whether the regions oil and natural gas deposits

Or to have jurrisdictions to impose maritime laws. South China Sea is the most busiest sea lane

Or the rich fishing grounds and exploitation of their natural resources

This island are with in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ)

3rd united nations convention on the law of the sea unclose!!