Who really owns the Spratly Island?
Only China (PRC), Taiwan (ROC), and Vietnam have made claims based on historical sovereignty of the islands. The Philippines, however, claims part of the area as its territory under UNCLOS, an agreement parts of which have been ratified by the countries involved in the Spratly islands dispute.
Where is Spratly island located in the Philippines?
The largest of the Spratly islands, located about 22 miles (35 km) south-southwest of Philippine-occupied Loaita (Kota) Island and about 6 miles (10 km) west of Vietnam-occupied Sand Cay. Covered with shrubs, coconut, mangroves, guano deposits and fringing reef.
What is the meaning of Spratly Island?
/ (ˈsprætlɪ) / noun. a widely-scattered group of uninhabited islets and reefs in the S South China Sea, the subject of territorial claims wholly or in part by six neighbouring nationsCompare Paracel Islands.
Why does Scarborough Shoal belong to the Philippines?
It is a disputed territory claimed by the Republic of the Philippines through the 1734 Velarde map, while the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of China (Taiwan) claim it through the internationally invalidated nine-dash line (originally an eleven-dash line which included waters in the Gulf of Tonkin).
What countries claim Spratly Islands?
The Spratly islands dispute is a regional maritime territorial sovereignty dispute which involves six countries in the South China Sea – China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei.
Does the Philippines own the Spratly Islands?
The Philippines claims the northeastern section of the Spratly Islands as the Kalayaan Island Group, in addition to the Scarborough Shoal, which it calls the Bajo de Masinloc. Malaysia claims part of the Kalayaan Island, while China and Taiwan claim the entirety of the island group.
How many Spratly Islands are there?
Despite the Spratly Islands naturally consisting of 19 islands (see below), according to a Chinese 1986 source, the Spratly Islands consist of 14 islands or islets, 6 banks, 113 submerged reefs, 35 underwater banks and 21 underwater shoals….Geographic and economic overview.
| Spratly Islands | |
|---|---|
| Tagalog | Kapuluan ng Kalayaan |
What is the claim of Philippines?
The Philippines claim the in the South China Sea as part of its territory. The country claims that these maritime features fall within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The Philippines’ claimed EEZ in the eastern portion of the South China Sea is designated as “West Philippine Sea” by the Philippine government.
What is the meaning of Scarborough Shoal?
Scarborough Shoal is a rock in the South China Sea, approximately 120 nautical miles west of the Philippine island of Luzon. There are no structures built on Scarborough Shoal, but the feature is effectively controlled by China, which has maintained a constant coast guard presence at the feature since 2012.
