South China Sea Islands - The South China Sea Islands is a term used to describe a bunch of mostly-contested island groups in the South China Sea. Various countries lay claim to different parts of this vast collection of mostly uninhabited underwater reefs, including China (People's Republic of China), Vietnam, Taiwan (Republic of China), Malaysia, Brunei, and the Philippines. This part of the World Ocean has excellent fishing waters, and holds unknown quantities of oil, gas and other mineral deposits. The islands could also be deemed as important strategic military sites, with a military presence from many of the claimant nations, already situated on some of the islands.
South China Sea Islands disputes:
Macclesfield Bank (Zhongsha Islands)
Paracel Islands
Pratas Islands (part of Taiwan)
Scarborough Shoal
Spratly Islands |
