The Spratly Islands of the South China Sea are a potential tinder box in
the region. Approximately 44 of the 51 small islands and reefs are claimed or
occupied by China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei. The
conflict is the result of overlapping sovereignty claims to various Spratly
Islands thought to possess substantial natural resources -- chiefly oil,
natural gas, and seafood. Overlapping claims resulted in several military
incidents since 1974 and in several countries awarding foreign companies
exploration rights in the same area of the South China Sea.
Oil and natural gas reserves in the Spratly region are estimated at 17.7 billion tons; Kuwait's reserves amount to 13 billion tons. The Spratly reserves place it as the fourth largest reserve bed worldwide.
China:
claims all islands in the Spratly region. China entered the dispute in three phases. The first phase encompassed China's claim to the Paracel Islands (which are north of the Spratly Islands) in the 1950s. The second phase took place in 1974, when China seized the Paracel Islands from Vietnam. The third phase began on 14 March 1988, with China's military engagement with Vietnamese forces over the removal of China's flag from a newly claimed shoal. The military clash resulted in China gaining possession of 6 islands in the Spratly region.
The Philippines:
claim approximately 60 of islands in the Spratly region. Joint exploration with Royal Dutch/Shell Group and Alcorn International near the Palawan Island. Phillipines has a mutual defence pact with US. ASEAN member
Vietnam:
claims part of islands in the Spratly region. ASEAN member. Vietnam's intervention in Cambodia and border skirmishes with China was directly linked to this issue
Taiwan:
claims all islands in the Spratly region. The Spratly Islands are strategically important to Taiwan for two reasons: (1) important shipping lanes pass through waters surrounding the Spratly Islands; and, (2) the South China Sea, in general, is fish abundant. Thus, Taiwan feels compelled to protect its interests. Taiwan has a mutual defence pact with US
Malaysia:
is the earliest oil operator in the sea and claims 3 islands and 4 rock groups in the Spratly region. ASEAN member
Brunei:
claims the Louisa Reef in the Spratly region, located adjacent to its coastline. Brunei became an active player in the Spratly disputes only within recent years. ASEAN member
Oil and natural gas reserves in the Spratly region are estimated at 17.7 billion tons; Kuwait's reserves amount to 13 billion tons. The Spratly reserves place it as the fourth largest reserve bed worldwide.
China:
claims all islands in the Spratly region. China entered the dispute in three phases. The first phase encompassed China's claim to the Paracel Islands (which are north of the Spratly Islands) in the 1950s. The second phase took place in 1974, when China seized the Paracel Islands from Vietnam. The third phase began on 14 March 1988, with China's military engagement with Vietnamese forces over the removal of China's flag from a newly claimed shoal. The military clash resulted in China gaining possession of 6 islands in the Spratly region.
The Philippines:
claim approximately 60 of islands in the Spratly region. Joint exploration with Royal Dutch/Shell Group and Alcorn International near the Palawan Island. Phillipines has a mutual defence pact with US. ASEAN member
Vietnam:
claims part of islands in the Spratly region. ASEAN member. Vietnam's intervention in Cambodia and border skirmishes with China was directly linked to this issue
Taiwan:
claims all islands in the Spratly region. The Spratly Islands are strategically important to Taiwan for two reasons: (1) important shipping lanes pass through waters surrounding the Spratly Islands; and, (2) the South China Sea, in general, is fish abundant. Thus, Taiwan feels compelled to protect its interests. Taiwan has a mutual defence pact with US
Malaysia:
is the earliest oil operator in the sea and claims 3 islands and 4 rock groups in the Spratly region. ASEAN member
Brunei:
claims the Louisa Reef in the Spratly region, located adjacent to its coastline. Brunei became an active player in the Spratly disputes only within recent years. ASEAN member
No comments:
Post a Comment