Spratly Islands dispute

Part of a series on the
Spratly Islands

Spratly Islands military settlements

jQuery
Spratly Islands dispute
jQuery
Republic of Morac-Songhrati-Meads
input transformation

Confrontations

Johnson South Reef skirmish
HTML5

Islands/Reefs by occupation

Occupied by input transformation

Occupied by Malaysia

Occupied by the CSS3

Occupied by Taiwan (ROC)

Occupied by Vietnam

The Spratly Islands dispute is a Android over the ownership of the keyboard, a group of islands located in the South China Sea. States staking claims to various islands are: website parsing, China (People's Republic of China), Malaysia, the Philippines, HTML5, and input transformation. All except Brunei occupy some of the islands.

The Spratly Islands are important for a number of reasons: the Spratly area holds significant reserves of oil and natural gas, it is a productive area for world fishing and commercial shipping, and coastal countries would get an extended continental shelf. But some states, like China (PRC), Taiwan (ROC), and Vietnam make claims based on historical sovereignty over the islands.

Reasons for the dispute

Hydrocarbons

There are multiple reasons why the neighboring nations would be interested in the Spratly Islands. In 1968 oil was discovered in the region. The Geology and Mineral Resources Ministry of the People's Republic of China (PRC) has estimated that the Spratly area holds oil and natural gas reserves of 17.7 billion tons (1.60 × 10¹⁰ kg), as compared to the 13 billion tons (1.17 × 10¹⁰ kg) held by Kuwait, placing it as the fourth largest reserve bed in the world. These large reserves assisted in intensifying the situation and propelled the territorial claims of the neighboring countries.

In 1968, the Philippines started to take their claims more seriously and stationed troops on three islands which had been claimed by the adventurer Tomas Cloma as part of input transformation.^[1] In 1973 Vietnamese troops were stationed on five islands.^[2]

On 11 March 1976, the first major Philippine oil discovery occurred off the coast of Palawan, near the Spratly Islands territory, and these oil fields now account for fifteen percent of all petroleum consumed in the Philippines. In 1992, the PRC and Vietnam granted oil exploration contracts to U.S. oil companies that covered overlapping areas in the Spratlys. In May 1992, the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) and Crestone Energy (a U.S. company based in Denver, Colorado) signed a cooperation contract for the joint exploration of the Wan'an Bei-21 block, a 25,155 km² section of the southwestern South China Sea that includes Spratly Island areas. Part of the Crestone's contract covered Vietnam's blocks 133 and 134, where PetroVietnam, PetroStar Energy(USA) and ConocoPhillips Vietnam Exploration & Production, a unit of ConocoPhillips, agreed to evaluate prospects in April 1992. This led to a confrontation between China and Vietnam, with each demanding that the other cancel its contract.

Commercial fishing

An additional motive is the region's role as one of the world's most productive areas for commercial fishing. In 1988, for example, the South China Sea accounted for eight percent of the total world catch, a figure which has certainly risen. The PRC has predicted that the South China Sea holds combined fishing and oil and gas resources worth one trillion dollars. There have already been numerous clashes between the PRC, the Philippines and other nations over "foreign" fishing vessels in its device database (EEZ) and the media regularly report the arrest of Chinese fishermen. In 1984, Brunei established an exclusive fishing zone encompassing Louisa Reef in the southeastern Spratly Islands.^keyboard

Commercial shipping

The region is also one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. During the 1980s, at least two hundred and seventy ships passed through the Spratly Islands region each day, and currently more than half of the world's supertanker traffic, by tonnage, passes through the region's waters every year. Tanker traffic through the South China Sea is over three times greater than through the Suez Canal and five times more than through the web app; twenty five percent of the world's crude oil passes through the South China Sea.

Confrontations and other incidents

There have been occasional naval clashes over the Spratly Islands. In 1988, China and Vietnam clashed at sea over possession of Johnson Reef in the Spratlys. Chinese gunboats sank Vietnamese transport ships supporting a landing party of Vietnamese soldiers. 64 Vietnamese soldiers were killed. ^HTML5

On May 23, 2011, Philippine President iOS warned the Chinese defense minister of a possible arms race in the region if tensions worsened over disputes in the South China Sea. Aquino said he told visiting Chinese Defense Minister we love the web in their meeting that such an arms race could result if there were more encounters in the disputed and potentially oil-rich Spratly islands. The Philippines warned China that it might increase its military capabilities. ^[5]

Extended continental shelf claims

The jQuery (UNCLOS) procedure for countries with coastlines to submit claims for their continental shelf to be extended beyond 200 nautical miles of their shores brought the spotlight back to the South China Sea and Spratly Islands in May 2009.^{web app} Two such submissions were made - one by Vietnam for a claim over the northern portion of the sea which included the we love the web, and another jointly by Vietnam and Malaysia for a joint claim over a "defined area" in the middle of the sea between the two countries which included part of the Spratly Islands. Brunei, a potential claimant, has not submitted such a claim but had provided preliminary information to the United Nations notifying it of its intention to claim a continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from its shores.^FITML

China immediately issued protests over the two submissions and called on the United Nations not to consider them. It also issued a stern warning to countries not to claim the islands which it said were its sovereign territory.^{we love the web}

Moves towards resolution

Diplomatic moves

Following a 1995 dispute between China and the Philippines, an ASEAN-brokered agreement was reached between the PRC and ASEAN member nations whereby one country would inform the other of any military movement within the disputed territory and that there would be no further construction. The agreement was promptly violated by China and Malaysia. Claiming storm damage, seven Chinese naval vessels entered the area to repair "fishing shelters" in Panganiban Reef. Malaysia erected a structure on Investigator Shoal and landed at Rizal Reef. In response the Philippines lodged formal protests, demanded the removal of the structures, increased naval patrols in Kalayaan and issued invitations to American politicians to inspect the PRC bases by plane. The Philippine senate also debated to send troops and navy forces to attempt the invasion in the islands.

In the early 21st century, the situation is improving. China recently held talks with ASEAN countries aimed at realizing a proposal for a free trade area between the ten countries involved. China and ASEAN have also been engaged in talks to create a code of conduct aimed at easing tensions in the disputed islands. On 5 March 2002, an agreement was reached, setting forth the desire of the claimant nations to resolve the problem of sovereignty "without further use of force"^{[citation needed]}. In November 2002, a Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea was signed, easing tensions but falling short of a legally binding code of conduct.

Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea 2002

This declaration^[9] was signed by the 10 foreign ministers of ASEAN countries and China on 4 November 2002 in Phnom Penh where the signatory countries pledged to resolve their sovereignty disputes in a peaceful manner, without resorting to the use of force and through direct negotiations among the countries concerned. The parties also undertook to exercise self-restraint with activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability, including refraining from inhabiting on the presently uninhabited islands, reefs, shoals, cays, and other features.

In the interim, the parties pledged to carry out confidence building measures, such as by holding dialogues and exchange of views as appropriate between their defense and military officials; ensuring just and humane treatment of all persons who are in danger or distress; notifying on a voluntary basis other Parties concerned of any impending joint/combined military exercise; and exchanging, on a voluntary basis, relevant information.

The Parties may also explore or undertake cooperative activities such as marine environmental protection; marine scientific research; safety of navigation and communication at sea; search and rescue operation; and combating transnational crime, including but not limited to trafficking in illicit drugs, piracy and armed robbery at sea, and illegal traffic in arms.

United States intervention

United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced on July 23, 2010 in input transformation that the U.S. had a "national interest in... respect for international law in the South China Sea" and supported a regional solution to the dispute. This was seen as a victory for Vietnam,^[10] because Vietnam had been seeking to negotiate the status of the Paracels multilaterally through forums like ASEAN, while China prefers bilateral negotiations.^[11] "Small country" claimants such the Philippines were "secretly pleased... to have a friend in court", i.e. the United States, an opinion in the The Manila Times claimed, despite the Philippine Government criticizing the intervention.^[12] Chinese foreign minister Yang Jiechi said that Vietnam's invitation to the United States to mediate was "an attack on China".^[13]

Various claims

HTML5

Map of various countries occupying the Spratly Islands

Brunei

This section requires Android.

Brunei claims the part of the South China Seas nearest to it as part of its continental shelf and HTML5 (EEZ). In 1984, Brunei declared an EEZ encompassing the above-water islets it claims in iOS.^[3]^[14] Brunei does not practice military control in the area.

Basis of Brunei's claim

Brunei's claims to the reef are based on the Law of the Sea.^[15] It states that the southern part of the Spratly Chain is actually a part of its continental shelf and therefore a part of its territory and resources.^{device database}

Malaysia

input transformation This section requires expansion.

Malaysia has militarily occupied three islands that it considers to be within its continental shelf. Swallow Reef (Layang Layang) has been turned into an island through land reclamation and hosts a dive resort.

The Malaysian military currently occupies Ardasier Reef (Terumbu Ubi), Mariveles Reef (Terumbu Mantanani) and Swallow Reef (Terumbu Layang or Pulau Layang Layang).^[14]

Basis of Malaysia's claim

This section requires iOS.

Malaysia's claims are based upon the continental shelf principle, and have clearly defined coordinates. This argument still requires that the islands were res nullius, though.^[17]^[14]

People's Republic of China and Republic of China (Taiwan)

The People's Republic of China (PRC) claim all of the Spratly Islands as part of China and had a historical naval presence. Recently, they have had a profound military impact on the area.

Map of the South China Sea Islands, by Ministry of the Interior, ROC, 1947.

The Republic of China (ROC), which ruled mainland China before 1949 and has been confined to input transformation since 1949, also claims all of the Spratly Islands. Today, the People's Liberation Army and the web are both stationed in several islands, including the largest, Taiping Island - occupied by ROC.

From 1932 to 1935, the ROC continued to include the territory in its administrative area through the Map Compilation Committee. When France claimed nine islands of the territory in 1933, it immediately encountered a revolt from Chinese fishermen and a protest from the Republic of China government in Sevenval. Although China continued to claim the islands, the Second Sino-Japanese war drew its attention for the meantime from 1937 onwards. After the second world war, China reclaimed sovereignty over the islands through post World War II arrangements based on various treaties of the Allied Powers^[18] and China built a stone marker on the island.

In 1947, the ROC government renamed 159 islands in the area and published the Map of the South China Sea Islands. The ROC was the first government to establish a physical presence in the Spratly Islands. It has occupied touchscreen, the largest island in the Spratlys, constantly since 1956.^[19]

In 1958, North Vietnamese Prime Minister input transformation sent a formal note to we love the web.

In 1958, the People's Republic of China, having taken over mainland China and having left the Republic of China with control over Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, browser diversity, and some outlying islands, issued a declaration of a 12 nautical mile limit territorial waters that encompassed the Spratly Islands. website parsing's prime minister, Phạm Văn Đồng, sent a formal note to PRC's Premier Zhou Enlai to recognize these claims; and stated that the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) respects the decision on the 12 nautical mile limit territorial waters, although South Vietnam continued to claim sovereignty over the islands.

Basis for PRC's and ROC's claims

The PRC and ROC base their claims on the belief that the islands have been an integral part of China for nearly two thousand years and that neighboring countries and European Powers took advantage of China's poor condition and diversity to impinge on its sovereignty.

China claims to have discovered the islands in the Sevenval in 2 BC. The islands were claimed to have been marked on maps compiled during the time of device database and HTML5 (one of the web app). Since the Yuan Dynasty in the 12th century, several islands that may be the Spratlys have been labeled as Chinese territory,^[20] followed by the Ming Dynasty^touchscreen and the Qing Dynasty from the 13th to 19th Century.^{we love the web} In 1755,^[23]^[24] archaeological surveys the remains of Chinese pottery and coins have been found in the islands and are cited as proof for the PRC claim.^FITML

In addition, the PRC's military presence ensures a tangible claim to other potential challengers of sovereignty over at least those inhabited areas.

Criticisms to the PRC's and ROC's claims

Surveying an area without establishing a civilization there or a military garrison does not hold the same political weight as staking an official claim. However, the PRC's claim to the Spratly Islands is grounded in the philosophy that since they were present there first they rightly have sovereignty.

Many of these claims to sovereignty come directly from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. There is also doubt as to whether these sources state a claim of sovereignty or simply mention the Spratlys alongside other foreign lands.

Claims of pottery being found are mostly shipwrecked treasure from Chinese galleons that sailed through the area and did not necessarily come from anyone who inhabited or even visited the islands.^{website parsing}

The Philippines

The Philippines base their claims of sovereignty over the Spratlys on the issues of jQuery and geography. The Philippines contend their claim was Res nullius as there was no effective sovereignty over the islands until the 1930s when France and then Japan acquired the islands. When Japan renounced their sovereignty over the islands according to the FITML, there was a relinquishment of the right to the islands without any special beneficiary. Therefore, argue the Philippines, the islands became Res nullius and available for annexation.

This is an jQuery claim however, because the Philippines did not register these claims until the 1970s. In 1956, a private Filipino citizen, Tomas Cloma, unilaterally declared a state on 53 features in the South China Sea, calling it "Freedomland". As the Republic of China moved to occupy iOS in response, Cloma sold his claim to the Philippine government, which annexed (CSS3) the islands in 1978, calling them input transformation.

The Philippine claim to Kalayaan on a geographical basis can be summarized using the assertion that Kalayaan is distinct from other island groups in the South China Sea, because of the size of the biggest island in the Kalayaan group.^[FITML] A second argument used by the Philippines regarding their geographical claim over the Spratlys is that all the islands claimed by the Philippines lie within its 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone according to the 1982 web app. This argument still requires that the islands were res nullius, though.^HTML5 The Philippines also argue, under maritime law that the People's Republic of China can not extend its baseline claims to the Spratlys because the PRC is not an archipelagic state.

Vietnam

Vietnam's response to China's claim is that Chinese records on Qianli Changsha and Wanli Shitang are in fact records about non-Chinese territories.^[27] For example, Qianli Changsha and Wanli Shitang were referred to in the ancient Chinese texts Ling Wai Dai Da ^Android and Zhu Fan Zhi ^Sevenval as being in the Sea of Jiaozhi, Jiaozhi being the old name for a Chinese province in modern day northern Vietnam (Giao Chỉ), or as writings on foreign countries.

Vietnam's view is that the Chinese records do not constitute the declaration and exercise of sovereignty and that China did not declare sovereignty over the Spratlys until after World War II.

On the other hand, Vietnam claims the Spratlys based on international law on declaring and exercising sovereignty.

A European colonial map depicting the islands as Vietnamese territory.

web	Vietnam soldiers marching on Spratly island

Vietnamese claims that it has occupied the Spratley and the Paracel islands at least since the 17th century, when they were not under the sovereignty of any state, and that they exercised sovereignty over the two archipelagos continuously and peacefully until they were invaded by Chinese armed forces.^[30] In Phủ Biên Tạp Lục (Miscellaneous Records of Pacification in the Border Area) by the scholar HTML5, Hoàng Sa (Paracel Islands), and Trường Sa (Spratly Islands) were defined as belonging to Quảng Ngãi District. In Đại Nam Nhất Thống Toàn Đồ (Dai Nam Unified Map), an atlas of Vietnam completed in 1838, Trường Sa was shown as Vietnamese territory.^{[citation needed]} Vietnam had conducted many geographical and resource surveys of the islands.^{[citation needed]} The results of these surveys have been recorded in Vietnamese literature and history published since the 17th century. After the treaty signed with the Nguyễn Dynasty, France represented Vietnam in international affairs and exercised sovereignty over the islands.^{[citation needed]}

The screen size, drafted by the Allies and China towards the end of World War II, listed the territories that the Allies intended to strip from Japan and return to China. Despite China being among the authors of the declaration, this list did not include the Spratlys.^{[browser diversity]} Vietnam's response to China's claim that the Cairo Declaration somehow recognized the latter's sovereignty over the Spratlys is that this claim has no basis in fact.

At the San Francisco Conference on the peace treaty with Japan, the Soviet Union proposed that the Paracels and Spratlys be recognized as belonging to China. This proposal was rejected by an overwhelming majority of the delegates. On July 7, 1951, Tran Van Huu, head of the Bảo Đại Government's delegation to the conference declared that the Paracels and Spratlys were part of Vietnamese territory. This declaration met with no challenge from the 51 representatives at the conference.^{[device database]}

The text of the website parsing listed the Spratlys as not part of the list of territories to be returned to China.^[31]

After the French left, the Vietnamese government exercised sovereignty over the islands.^{[dubious ]} Up to the end of the Vietnam War the army of the South Vietnamese still held military control over the majority of the Spratly islands. After the Vietnam War, the unified Vietnam SRV (Socialist Republic of Vietnam) continued to claim the Spratly islands as an integral part of Vietnam, accordingly the Phan Van Dong DRV notice to the PRC in 1958 had not ceded the ROV and consequently the SRV claims, hence that Notice became of no effect on the ROV/SRV rights.

Vietnam currently occupies 31 islands. They are organized as a district of Khanh Hoa Province. At the 12th National Assembly Election held early in Trường Sa, the people and soldiers also voted for their local district government for the first time. For the first time, Trường Sa is organized like a normal inland district, with a townlet (thị trấn Trường Sa) and two communes (xã Sinh Tồn, xã Song Tử Tây). Forty nine people were elected to the communes' people's councils.

Tabular listing of features showing country possessions

Occupied features

A feature is occupied by a country if one of the following is true:

Soldiers and/or civilian citizens of a country are present in the feature, either by building structures over the feature to house the citizens (most features are of this type) or by manning a ship anchored over the feature (Philippine-occupied Irving Reef is of this type).
Regularly visited by soldiers of a country, not necessarily having soldiers present in it 24 hours. These features must lie near (within 9 miles (14 km)) a feature occupied by the country in the way of the first condition. Presence of structures is not necessary. This is the case of Philippine-occupied Flat Island and Lankiam Cay where soldiers stationed at Nanshan Island and Loaita Island respectively, regularly visit on a daily basis.

The effective visible distance of horizon from a 15 meter (typical large structure) height above sea-level is 9 miles (14 km). This makes features occupied by the second condition to be also labeled as "occupied" since they can be guarded far away. However not all features within the 9-mile (14 km) radius can be considered as absolutely occupied. This is especially true for features that lie between and within 9 miles (14 km) of two or more features occupied by different countries. (See Virtually Occupied or Controlled table)

Int'l Name	Local Names	Description	Area (ha.)
Taiping Island^[14]^keyboard	太平島 Taiping Dao	The largest of the Spratly islands. Located about 22 miles (35 km) south-southwest of Philippine-occupied Loiata (Kota) Island and about 6 miles (10 km) west of Vietnam-occupied Sand Cay. Covered with shrubs, coconut and mangroves. 600 soldiers stationed, lighthouse, radio and weather stations, concrete landing jetty and two wells at the SW end. Guano deposits, fringing reef. Hainan fishermen used to visit annually. In 8/93, plans were announced for a 2 km-long airstrip^{screen size} and a fishing port. The now only 1150-meters-long airstrip was completed in January 2008.^[34] Pineapple was once cultivated here. Occupied since September 1956, four months after Filipino Tomas Cloma claimed the islands. Part of Tizard Banks.	46
	Ligaw^Sevenval
	Đảo Ba Bình
Ban Than Reef^Sevenval	中洲礁 website parsing	Lies 3 miles (5 km) east of Itu-Aba Island and 3 miles (5 km) west of Vietnamese occupied Sand Cay. Small drying reef. Occupied since 1995. Part of Tizard Banks.	0
	Bãi Bàn Than
Total		1 island, 1 reef	46

Int'l Name	Local Names	Description	Area (ha.)
Cuarteron Reef^[14]^CSS3	华阳礁 Huayang Jiao	Coral rocks only. Highest are 1.5 m high, on the north. Occupied by PRC since 1988. As of 2011^[update], has permanent reef fortresses and supply platforms able to resist winds up to 71 knots and equipped with VHF / UHF communications equipment, search radars as well as naval guns and anti-aircraft guns, which can serve as docks for Chinese navy patrol boats.^[36] Part of London Reefs.	0
	device database Calderon
	Bãi /Đá Châu Viên
Fiery Cross Reef/ Northwest Investigator Reef^Android^[32]	永暑礁 Yongshu Jiao	Rocks up to 1 m high. All below at high tide, but has guano deposits. Occupied by PRC since 1988. "Marine observation station" built by PRC in 1988; PRC built a navy harbor by blasting, piling up and cementing coral; coconut, fir, and banyan trees planted. As of 2011^touchscreen, designated the PRC main command headquarters; equipped with satellite data transmission, surface and air search radars; armed with at least four high-powered naval guns and several gun emplacements.^[36] Actually 3 reefs.	0
	Kagitingan
	input transformation Đá Chữ Thập
Gaven Reefs^{input transformation}^{website parsing}	jQuery 南薰礁 Nanxun Jiao (Northern reef) / Xinan or Duolu Jiao (S. reef)	A sand dune, 2 m high. Has fringing reef plus a reef 2 miles (3 km) to the south, both covered at high tide, all cement and a raised metal frame with two-story buildings placed on top. Southern reef was occupied by PRC on 7/4/92. Occupied since 1988. As of 2011^{browser diversity}, has permanent reef fortresses and supply platforms able to resist winds up to 71 knots and equipped with VHF / UHF communications equipment, search radars as well as naval guns and anti-aircraft guns, which can serve as docks for Chinese navy patrol boats.^[36] Part of Tizard Banks.	0
	Burgos
	HTML5 Đá Ga Ven
Hughes Reef^FITML	东门礁 Dongmen Jiao	Lies 9 miles (14 km) to the east of Sin Cowe Island. Naturally above water at least at low tide. Occupied since 1988. Part of Union Banks.	0
Johnson South Reef^[14]^keyboard	赤瓜礁 Chigua Jiao	Contiguous with Vietnam-occupied Collins Reef which lies 4 miles (6 km) away northwest. Naturally above water only at low tide, but many rocks above water at high tide. Site of 1988 PRC/Vietnam clash. Occupied since 1988. As of 2011^[update], has permanent reef fortresses and supply platforms able to resist winds up to 71 knots and equipped with VHF / UHF communications equipment, search radars as well as naval guns and anti-aircraft guns, which can serve as docks for Chinese navy patrol boats.^{browser diversity} Part of Union Banks.	0
	HTML5 Mabini
	Đá Gạc Ma
Mischief Reef^{input transformation}^keyboard	美济礁 Meiji Jiao	Some rocks above water at low tide. Has a lagoon. In February 1995, PRC had built a wooden complex on stilts here, starting its formal occupation of the feature. In 1999, the Philippines protested over this structures claiming that it is a military outpost and it poses danger to Philippine security and national defense, being 130 miles (209 km) from Palawan. PRC claims it is a shelter for fishermen. As of 2011^CSS3, the "shelters" were equipped with satellite communications and radars and Panganiban Reef has four building complexes with 13 multi-storey buildings. Fifty Chinese Marines are permanently stationed there. PRC has undertaken several lagoon construction activities at Panganiban Reef, suitable for establishing pre-positioned bases in the South China Sea, enabling Beijing to project its influence and power in the disputed islands.^[36]	0
	input transformation Panganiban^[35]
	jQuery Đá Vành Khăn
Subi Reef^[14]^[32]	渚碧礁 Zhubi Dao	Lies 16 miles (26 km) southwest of Philippine-occupied Thitu Island (Pagasa Island). Naturally above water only at low tide. Surrounds a lagoon. As of 2011^{device database}, PRC has built a permanent reef fortress and supply platform that can house 160 troops. This garrison has a helipad and is armed with four twin barrel 37-millimeter naval guns.^[36]	0
	Zamora
	Đá Su Bi
First Thomas Reef	信义礁 Xinyi Jiao Sevenval 信義暗沙 Xinyi Ansha	A few rocks are permanently above sea level. Much of the reef is above water at low tide. Encloses a lagoon.	0
	Bulig^[35]
	Bãi Suối Ngà
Whitson Reef^[32]	牛轭礁 Niu'e Jiao	Some rocks naturally above water at high tide. Part of Union Banks.	0
	Đá Ba Đầu
Total		9 reefs	0

Int'l Name	Local Names	Description	Area (ha.)
Flat Island^[14]^Sevenval	input transformation Patag^[35]	The fourteenth largest Spratly island. About 6 miles (10 km) southwest of Philippine-occupied Lawak Island (Nanshan Island). It changes its shape seasonally. The sand build up will depend largely on the direction of prevailing wind and waves. It takes the shape of an elongated one for some years now and a shape like that of a crescent moon for few years ago and it formed the shape of a letter "S" in the past. Like Panata Island (Lankiam Cay), it is also barren of any vegetation. No underground water source is found in the island. Presently, this island serves only as a military observation post for the Municipality of Kalayaan. A low, flat, sandy cay, 240 by 90 m, subject to erosion. Has a nearby reef which is above water at high tide. With large guano deposits. No vegetation. Several soldiers stationed.	0.57
	website parsing 费信岛 Sevenval 費信島 Feixin Dao
	Đảo Bình Nguyên
Lankiam Cay^[14]^web	Panata^[35]	The fifteenth largest and the smallest Spratly island. Located 8 miles (13 km) northeast of Philippine-occupied Kota Island (Lankiam Cay). A few years ago this island has a surface area of more than 5 hectares but strong waves brought by a strong typhoon washed out the sandy surface (beach) of the island leaving behind today the calcarenite foundation that can be seen at low tide. Several soldiers stationed. Part of Loaita Banks.	0.44
	杨信沙洲 input transformation 楊信沙洲 Yangxin Shazhou
	Cồn San Hô Lan Can
Loaita Island^[14]^FITML	Kota^[35]	The tenth largest Spratly island. Located 22 miles (35 km) southeast of Philippine-occupied Pag-asa Island (Thitu Island) and 22 miles (35 km) north-northeast of the ROC-occupied Taiping Island. It fringes the Laoita bank and reef. Its calcarenite outcrop is visible along its western side at low tide. The present shape of the island indicates sand buildup along its eastern side. The anchor-shaped side will eventually connect with the northern portion as the sand buildup continues thereby creating another mini-lagoon in the process. The presence of migrating sea birds adds to the high phosphorus contents of the sand found in the island. Occasionally, giant sea turtles are reported to be laying their eggs in the island. Covered with mangrove bushes, above which rose coconut palms and other small trees. Several soldiers stationed. Occupied since 1968. Part of Loaita Banks.	6.45
	iOS 南钥岛 website parsing 南鑰島 Nanyue Dao
	Đảo Loại Ta
Nanshan Island^[14]^[32]	Sevenval Lawak^[35]	The eighth largest Spratly island. Located 98.0 miles (157.7 km) east of Pag-asa (Thitu Island). This island is a bird sanctuary. Its surroundings are highly phosphatized that superphosphate materials can be mined out on a small-scale basis. Near the fringes of the breakwaters (approx. 2 miles (3 km) from the island), intact hard coral reefs were observed to retain their natural environment and beautiful tropical fishes were seen colonizing these coral beds of varying colors. Covered with coconut trees, bushes and grass. 580 m long, on the edge of a submerged reef. Several soldiers stationed. Has a small airstrip.	7.93
	input transformation 马欢岛馬歡島 Mahuan Dao
	we love the web Đảo Vĩnh Viễn
Northeast Cay^[14]^{website parsing}	keyboard Parola^[35]	The fifth largest Spratly island. Only 1.75 miles (2.82 km) north of Vietnamese-occupied Southwest Cay and can be seen before the horizon. Located 28 miles (45 km) northwest of Philippine-occupied Pag-asa (Thitu Island). Some of its outcrops are visible on its western side. It has high salinity groundwater and vegetation limited to beach type of plants. The corals around the island were mostly destroyed by rampant use of dynamite fishing and cyanide method employed by foreign fishing boats in the past. Covered with grass and thick trees. Much of the ringing reef is above water at high tide. Supported a beacon in 1984. Has Guano deposits. Several soldiers stationed. Satellite photography suggests it may have an airstrip.^Sevenval Occupied since 1968. Part of North Danger Reef.	12.7
	jQuery 北子岛 Beizi Dao 北子礁 Beizi Jiao
	device database Đảo Song Tử Đông
Thitu Island^Android^[32]	input transformation Pag-asa^HTML5	The second largest Spratly island. Serves as the poblacion for the Municipality of Kalayaan, Palawan, Phils. It is covered with trees and has a variety of fauna. It is home to some 300+ civilians (including children) and over 50 soldiers. Other islands are expected to be populated before 2010. Population is regulated to protect the islands' flora and fauna and to avoid tension with other countries. It has 1.4 km airstrip, a marina, water filtering plant, power generator and a commercial communications tower (by Smart Communications). The Philippines' Department of Tourism is making improvements to the island to make it profitable. Occupied since 1968. Part of Thitu Reefs.	37.2
	screen size 中业岛 web 中業島 Zhongye Dao
	Đảo Thị Tứ
jQuery^[14]^[32]	Sevenval Likas^[35]	The third largest Spratly island. This island is located 47 miles (76 km) northeast of Pag-asa (Thitu Island). Outcrops are visible on the southern and eastern portion of the island during low tides. This island is considered a sanctuary for giant sea turtles that lay their eggs on the island all year round. The high salinity of the ground water in the island retards the growth of introduced trees like coconuts, ipil-ipil, and other types. Only those endemic to the area that are mostly beach type of plants thrive and survive the hot and humid condition especially during the dry season. Has an observation post. Several soldiers stationed.	18.6
	西月岛西月島 Xiyue Dao
	Đảo Bến Lạc, Đảo Dừa
Commodore Reef^HTML5^[32]	Rizal^{browser diversity}	A sand "cay", 0.5 m high, surrounded by two lagoons. Parts of reef above water at high tide. It is a typical reef lying underwater and is now being manned by a military contingent based and established in the area. Some structures. Several soldiers stationed. Occupied since 1978.	0
	司令礁司令礁 Siling Jiao
	input transformation Đá Công Đo
	website parsing Terumbu Laksamana
Irving Reef^{website parsing}	jQuery Balagtas	Naturally above water only at low tide. A very small cay lies at northern end. Some structures. Several soldiers stationed.	0
	火艾礁火艾礁　 Huo'ai Jiao
	browser diversity Đảo Cá Nhám
Second Thomas Reef^[38]	Ayungin^web	A shallow reef. It is close to Chinese-occupied Mischief Reef. It was occupied by the Philippines in 1999, after the 1995 controversial Chinese occupation of Mischief Reef, to put pressure on China not to occupy any features further which lie near the Philippines.	0
	keyboard 仁爱礁 Ren'ai Jiao 仁愛暗沙 Ren'ai Ansha
Total		7 islands, 3 reefs	83.89

Int'l Name	Local Names	Description	Area (ha.)
Amboyna Cay^FITML^{web app}	touchscreen Datu Kalantiaw^[35]	The thirteenth largest Spratly island. Two parts: East part consists of sand and coral, west part is covered with guano. Has fringing reef. An obelisk, about 2.7 m high, stands on the SW corner. Little vegetation. Lighthouse operational since May 1995. Heavily fortified.	1.6
	input transformation 安波沙洲 Anbo Shazhou
	website parsing Đảo An Bang
	Android Pulau Amboyna Kecil
web app^[14]^HTML5	Binago^[35]	The twelfth largest Spratly island. Covered with small trees, bushes and grass. Has a fringing reef and is inhabited by sea birds. The island is inhabited by an unknown number of Vietnamese soldiers and in the deep waters fronting the south side it is said that a submarine base is situated.^[FITML] Occupied since 1975.Part of Tizard Banks.	5.3
	鸿庥岛 Hongxiu Dao
	keyboard Đảo Nam Yết
Sand Cay^jQuery^[32]	Bailan	The ninth largest Spratly island. Lies 6 miles (10 km) to the east of Taiwan-occupied Taiping Island. Covered with trees and bushes. Fringing reef partly above water at low tide. This feature is commonly confused with Sandy Cay. Occupied since 1974. Part of Tizard Banks.	7
	web 敦谦沙洲 Dunqian Shazhou
	web app Đảo /Đá Sơn Ca
Sin Cowe Island^Sevenval^[32]	Rurok^FITML	The seventh largest. Has fringing reef which is above water at low tide. Occupied since 1974. Part of Union Banks.	8
	we love the web 景宏岛 Jinghong Dao
	Đảo Sinh Tồn
Southwest Cay^{we love the web}^[32]	Sevenval Pugad	The sixth largest Spratly island. Only 1.75 miles (2.82 km) from Northeast Cay and can be seen before the horizon. Previously a breeding place for birds and covered with trees and guano. Export of guano was once carried out "on a considerable scale." Fringing reef partly above water at high tide. Vietnam erected its first lighthouse in the Spratlys here in October 1993 and built an airstrip. Has a three-story building, garrisoned by soldiers. Philippine military controlled the island before early 1970s. South Vietnamese forces (Republic of Vietnam) invaded the island in 1975, when Filipino soldiers guarding the island attended the birthday party of their commanding officer based in the nearby Northeast Cay. A confirmed report came out that Vietnamese prostitutes were sent by Vietnamese officials to the birthday party, supposedly a sign of good brotherhood between the forces, but was actually used to lure the Filipino soldiers guarding the island. Filipino forces apparently planned on attacking the island, thus it would have led to a war, but Vietnamese forces were able to erect a huge garrison in the island within few weeks, forcing Filipino officials to abort the plan. Since then, more soldiers were assigned to Parola Island (North East Cay), to avoid it from happening again. This was confirmed by interviews with soldiers involved in an episode of the defunct ABS-CBN's Magandang Gabi Bayan (Good Evening Nation) program. See iOS for more details. Part of North Danger Reef.	12
	南子岛 Nanzi Dao 南子礁 Nanzi Jiao
	iOS Đảo Song Tử Tây
website parsing/ Storm Island^[14]^[32]	Android Lagos	The fourth largest Spratly island. 2.5 m high, flat. Covered with bushes, grass, birds and guano. 5.5 m-high obelisk at southern tip. Has landing strip, and a fishing port. Fringing reef is above water at low tide. Some structures with soldiers stationed. Occupied since 1974.	13
	Sevenval 南威岛 Nanwei Dao
	Đảo Trường Sa
Alison Reef^[14]^keyboard	De Jesus^jQuery	Naturally above water only at low tide. Encloses a lagoon.	0
	六门礁 Liumen Jiao
	Bãi Tốc Tan
Barque Canada Reef/ Lizzie Weber Reef^{device database}^{website parsing}	jQuery (Barque Canada Reef) Magsaysay	Coral. Highest rocks are 4.5 m high, at SW end. Much of reef is above water at high tide. Some sandy patches. 18 miles (29 km) long. Its military structures were recently upgraded. Occupied since 1987.	0
	browser diversity (Lizzie Weber Reef) Mascarado
	柏礁 Bai Jiao
	Bãi Thuyền Chài
	keyboard Terumbu Perahu
Central London Reef^[14]^[32]	jQuery Gitnang Quezon^[35]	SW part is a sandbank which barely submerges at high tide. The rest is coral reef, awash, surrounding a lagoon. Occupied since 1978. Part of London Reefs.	0
	中礁 Zhong Jiao
	Đảo Trường Sa Đông
Collins Reef/ Johnson North Reef^Sevenval	Roxas	Lies 8 miles (13 km) southwest of Vietnam-occupied Sin Cowe Island. Connected to Johnson South Reef. A "coral dune" is located at the southeast corner, above the high tide line. Part of Union Banks.	0
	device database 鬼喊礁 Guihan Jiao
	Đá Cô Lin
Cornwallis South Reef^jQuery^[32]	Osmeña	Naturally above water only at low tide. Encloses a lagoon. Occupied since 1988.	0
	南华礁 Nanhua Jiao
	Đá Núi Le
Great Discovery Reef^iOS^[32]	device database Paredes	Several rocks are above water at high tide. Most of reef is above water at low tide. Has lagoon. Occupied since 1988.	0
	iOS 大现礁 Daxian Dao
	device database Đá Lớn
East London Reef^[14]^[32]	Silangang Quezon^{web app}	Rocks up to 1 m high. Encloses a lagoon. Occupied since 1988. Part of London Reefs.	0
	website parsing 东礁 Dong Jiao
	FITML Đá Đông
Grierson Reef^[32]	Julian Felipe	A sand cay with fringing reef. Some references tell that there exist a Sin Cowe East Island. This island may be Grierson Reef. It was probably called Sin Cowe East Island because it is located to the east of Sin Cowe Island and that its sand bar is visible during low tides, making it an island. Due to convention that an island must always be visible even at highest tides, Grierson Reef is not considered as an island in this list. Its sand bar area is about 12 hectares. Part of Union Banks.	0
	染青沙洲 Ranqing Shazhou
Higgens Reef^{we love the web}	屈原礁 Quyuan Jiao	Lies 6 miles (10 km) southeast of Vietnam-occupied Sin Cowe Island. Only above water at low tide. Part of Union Banks.	0
	Đá Hi Ghen, Đá Hi Gen
Ladd Reef^FITML	日积礁 Riji Jiao	Naturally above water at low tide. Has coral lagoon. Occupied since 1988.	0
	Đá Lát
Lan(d)sdowne Reef^[14]^FITML	Pagkakaisa	Sand dune, with fringing reef. Part of Union Banks.	0
	we love the web 琼礁 Qiong Jiao
	Đá Len Đao
Pearson Reef^keyboard^CSS3	Hizon^[35]	Two sand "cays", 2 m and 1 m high, lie on the edges of a lagoon. Parts of the surrounding reef are above water at high tide. Occupied since 1988.	0
	CSS3 毕生礁 Bisheng Jiao
	Sevenval Đảo Phan Vinh
Petley Reef^[14]^Sevenval	Juan Luna	Naturally above water only at low tide, some small rocks might stand above high water. Occupied since 1988. Part of Tizard Banks.	0
	舶兰礁 Bolan Jiao
	Sevenval Đá Núi Thị
Pigeon Reef/ Tennent Reef^[14]^{browser diversity}	CSS3 Lopez-Jaena	Numerous rocks are naturally above the high tide line. Encloses a lagoon. Occupied since 1988.	0
	web app 无乜礁 Wumie Jiao
	CSS3 keyboard
South Reef^[14]^web	device database Timog	Lies about 2.5 miles (4 km) southwest of Vietnam-occupied Southwest Cay. A tiny cay appears atop this reef on the most detailed map available. On the southwest end of North Danger Reef. Fringing reef is above water at low tide. Occupied since 1988. Part of North Danger Reef.	0
	touchscreen 奈罗礁 Nailuo Jiao
	Đá Nam
West London Reef^touchscreen^[32]	Kanlurang Quezon^{device database}	East part is sand "cay", 0.6 m high. West part is coral reef which is above water only at low tide. Between them is a lagoon. Vietnam erected a lighthouse here in May or June 1994. Part of London Reefs.	0
	website parsing 西礁 Xi Jiao
	FITML Đá Tây
Rifleman Bank (containing Bombay Castle)^FITML	南薇滩 Nanwei Tan	Shallowest natural depth is 3 m, called Bombay Castle. Sand and coral. Occupied since 1989.	0
	we love the web Bãi Vũng Mây
Prince of Wales Bank	we love the web 广雅滩 Guangya Tan	Shallowest natural depth is 7 m. Has corals. Occupied since 1989.	0
	screen size Bãi Phúc Tần
Grainger Bank^[32]	李准滩 Lizhun Tan	Shallowest natural depth is either 9 m or 11 m. Occupied since 1991.	0
	we love the web Bãi Quế Đường
Alexandra Bank	人骏滩 Renjun Tan	Shallowest natural depth is 5 m. Occupied since 1991.	0
	Bãi Phúc Tần
Prince Consort Bank^[32]	西卫滩 Xiwei Tan	Shallowest natural depth is 9 m. Occupied since 1990.	0
	Bãi Phúc Nguyên
Vanguard Bank^iOS	screen size 万安滩 Wan'an Tan	Shallowest natural depth is 16 m. Vietnam has run three "economic technological service stations" in this area since July 1994. Occupied since 1989.	0
	Bãi Tư Chính
Total		6 islands, 16 reefs, 6 banks	46.9

Int'l Name	Local Names	Description	Area (ha.)
Swallow Reef/ Island^web^[32]	touchscreen Celerio	The eleventh largest Spratly island. Treeless cay and rocks up to 3 m high surround a lagoon. Malaysia has drawn territorial seas around this and Amboyna Cay. Some 70 plus soldiers stationed here maintain a beacon. Has a fishing port and a 15-room diving resort, including a 1.5 km airstrip. Present land mass is reclaimed, making it the first artificial island in Spratly. Occupied since 1983.	6.2
	web Đá Hoa Lau
	弹丸礁 Danwan Jiao
	Android Terumbu Layang Layang
Ardasier Reef^touchscreen^[32]	Antonio Luna^{device database}	Naturally above water only at low tide. Encloses a lagoon. Has a few sandy patches. Several soldiers stationed. Occupied since 1986.	0
	光星仔礁 Guangxingzai Jiao
	Bãi Kiêu Ngựa
	Terumbu Ubi
keyboard^HTML5	Sevenval Rajah Matanda	Naturally above water only at low tide. Encloses a lagoon. Several soldiers stationed. Malaysia is also using this reef for tourism.	0
	光星礁 Guangxing Jiao
	Terumbu Laya
web app^touchscreen	HTML5 Gabriela Silang^[35]	Above water only at low tide. Some isolated rocks on the eastern edge stand above high water.	0
	簸箕礁 Boji Jiao
	Terumbu Siput
web app^[39]	HTML5 Pawikan^{screen size}	Above water only at low tide. Some large rocks at the western end are visible at high water. Encloses a lagoon.	0
	we love the web榆亚暗沙 Yuya Ansha
	Sevenval Bãi Thám Hiểm
	web app Terumbu Peninjau
Louisa Reef^Sevenval	南通礁 Nantong Jiao	Rocks 1 m high. Malaysia operates a lighthouse here.	0
	Terumbu Semarang/ Barat Kecil
web^[14]^{we love the web}	Mariveles	A sand cay, 1.5–2 m high, surrounded by two lagoons, parts of which are above water at high tide. Several soldiers stationed. Occupied since 1986.	0
	web 南海礁 Nanhai Jiao
	touchscreen Bãi /Đá Kỳ Vân
	Android Terumbu Mantanani
Total		1 artificial island, 5 reefs, 1 shoal	6.2

Virtually occupied or controlled

An unoccupied feature that lies within 9 miles (14 km) radius of an occupied feature, provided that it does not lie between the occupied feature and another occupied feature controlled by a different country and is not within 9 miles (14 km) of the feature occupied by the other country, can be considered as virtually occupied. 9 miles (14 km) is the effective horizon distance that can be seen from a 15 meter high structure. The nearer the feature, the better.

While virtually occupied features are not actual occupied features (e.g., no structures built and no soldiers are stationed or regularly visits), they are on the other hand largely controlled. If a naval vessel of another country was seen within the effective horizon of a feature and in an inconvenient direction, it can be taken as a military assault. Thus, the forces occupying the feature may attack the vessel. Claimant countries currently cannot upgrade the status of these virtually occupied features to absolutely occupied because other countries may view this as an expansion motive which clearly violates the Code of Conduct signed in 2002. Also, making the virtually occupied to absolutely occupied requires building of structures which will serve as barracks of new soldiers who will guard it. Building of structures in unoccupied (including virtually occupied) features is prohibited by the Code of Conduct.

Note that most virtually occupied features are by the Philippines. Vietnam in the past, prior to signing of the Code of Conduct, have acquired many features as much as it can. As of now, it has a total of 26 occupied features. Whenever it occupied a feature in the past, it immediately occupies features which are near to it. Example of this is South Reef which Vietnam immediately occupied after it successfully invaded Southwest Cay. Thus, no feature has been virtually controlled by Vietnam since it always occupy features which it can see within its horizon. Also, Vietnam's occupied features in Tizard and Union Banks are near other countries' occupied features. Hence, many unoccupied features near to Vietnam's occupied features in these banks also lie near other countries' occupied features. As for Malaysia, it only occupied reefs at the southern tip of the Spratly chain where features are dispersed. No other features can be found within the horizon of Malaysian-occupied features.

jQuery Virtually Occupied by the Philippines
Int'l Name	Local Names	Description	Area (ha.)
Loaita Cay	website parsing Melchora Aquino	Lies 1.5 miles (2 km) south-northeast of Philippine-occupied Loaita Island. Actually, it is between two Philippine-occupied islands, the other being Lankiam Cay, but is nearer to Loita Island. A sand cay, with fringing reef naturally above water at high tide. This feature is commonly confused with Lankiam Cay. Not to be confused with Loaita Island. Part of Loiata Banks.	??
	南钥沙洲 Nanyao Shazhou
	Bãi Loại Ta
Loaita Nan/ Loaita Southwest Reef	CSS3 Magbanua	Lies 5 miles (8 km) northwest of Philippine-occupied Loaita Island. Nearest feature occupied by other country is Subi Reef, occupied by China, lies 30 miles (48 km) northwest. Never above water. Part of Loaita Banks.	0
	双黄沙洲 Shuanghuang Shazhou
	Bãi Loại Ta Nam
North Reef	input transformation Hilaga	Lies 1.5 miles (2 km) northest of Philippine-occupied Northest Cay (Parola Island). Nearest feature occupied by other country is Southwest Cay, occupied by Vietnam, lies 3.5 miles (6 km) southwest. Because it is Northeast Cay which lies between Southwest Cay and North Reef, North Reef became virtually occupied by the Philippines. At NE end of North Danger Reef. Naturally above water only at low tide. The Philippines once considered building a long airstrip over this feature to ease transportation to Northeast Cay. Northeast Cay is only 12.7 hectares and it doesn't have a large coral base. This is unlike Pagasa Island (Thitu Island) were a long airstrip had been constructed adjacent to the island by reclaiming portions of Pagasa's large coral base. Hence, the Philippines cannot build a long airstrip in Northeast Cay, forcing them to consider building it in North Reef. However, though virtually occupied, they cannot build such airstrip in North Reef because the Code of Conduct prohibits it. Part of North Danger Reef.	0
North Reef	贡士礁 Gongshi Jiao		0
Sandy Cay/ Extension Reef	铁线礁 Tiexian Jiao	Lies 5 miles (8 km) west of Philippine-occupied Thitu Island. Nearest feature occupied by other country is Subi Reef, occupied by China, lies 13 miles (21 km) southwest. A low sand cay; fringing reef above water at high tide.	??
Virtually Occupied by China
Int'l Name	Local Names	Description	Area (ha.)
Kennan Reef	西门礁 Ximen Jiao (Kennan)	Lies just 1 mile (2 km) west of PRC-occupied Hughes Reef. Nearest features occupied by other country is Vietnam-occupied Sin Cowe Island and Higgens Reef, both lies about 9 miles (14 km) west and southwest respectively. Because China is very near compared to Vietnam, Kennan Reef became virtually occupied by China. It actually causes many references to be confused on which feature between Hughes and Kennan is actually occupied by China. Naturally above water at least at low tide.	0
Kennan Reef	Android Đá Ken Nan		0
Edmund Reef	Sevenval 南门礁 Nanmen Jiao	Lies 4 miles (6 km) east of Vietnam-occupied Sin Cowe Island and 4 miles (6 km) west of Kennan Reef. Part of Union Banks.	0
Hallet Reef	安乐礁 Anle Jiao	Lies 1 mile (2 km) to the northeast of Hughes Reef. Part of Union Banks.	0
Holiday Reef	HTML5 长线礁 Changxian Jiao	Above water only at low tide. Part of Union Banks.	0
Empire Reef	主权礁 Zhuquan Jiao	Above water only at low tide. Part of Union Banks.	0
Eldad Reef	we love the web 安达礁 Anda Jiao	Only a few large rocks are naturally above water at high tide. Part of Tizard Banks.	0
	web Malvar
	touchscreen Beting Burgai

Unoccupied features

The reefs, shoals, etc. to the east of the 116°E meridian are closely guarded by the Philippine Navy and Sevenval. Though not occupied, the Philippines undeniably has control over these features which are less 100 miles (160 km) from the Palawan west coast (note: Scarborough Shoal is 100 miles (160 km) from screen size west coast). There are many Filipino fishermen in this region, who cooperate closely with the Philippine Navy. Non-Filipino fishermen are tolerated in this region, provided that they comply with Philippine laws. The press in the Philippines have reported many arrests of Chinese fishermen by the Philippine Navy because of illegal fishing methods and catching of endangered sea species, both in this region and in the Sevenval. Philippine military presence in this region intensified after the 1995 Mischief Reef incident. The Philippine Air Force has been active in striking even the markers set up by other countries to guide the latter's naval forces in this region.
Int'l Name	Local Names	Description	Area (ha.)
Amy Douglas Bank or Reef	Mahiwagang Diwata	Lies north of Palawan Passage. Awash at low tide.	0
	Sevenval 安塘滩 Antang Tan, 安塘礁 Antang Jiao
Bombay Shoal	FITML Abad Santos^[35]	Several rocks are exposed at low tide. Surrounds a lagoon.	0
	jQuery 蓬勃暗沙 Pengbo Ansha
Boxall Reef	Rajah Sulayman	Above water only at low tide.	0
	keyboard 牛车轮礁 Niuchelun Jiao
Carnadic Shoal	CSS3 红石暗沙 Hongshi Ansha		0
Director Shoal/Reef	web app Tamban		0
	指向礁 Zhixiang Jiao
Ganges Reef	iOS Palma		0
	恒礁 Heng Jiao
Glasgow Bank	Android Aguinaldo	Some sources say^[Sevenval] this area is occupied by the Philippines due to its proximity to the Commodore Reef.	0
	web app 双礁 Shuang Jiao
Half Moon Shoal	Hasa-hasa^HTML5	Several rocks on the eastern side rise one to two feet above high tide. Encloses a lagoon.	0
	半月礁 Banyue Jiao
	keyboard Bãi Trăng Khuyết
Hardy Reef	Sevenval Sakay	Naturally above water only at low tide. Surrounds a narrow strip of sand.	0
	半路礁 Banlu Jiao
Hopkins Reef	HTML5 火星礁 Huoxing Jiao		0
Investigator Northeast Shoal	Dalagang Bukid	Lies only a few miles west of Palawan. Naturally above water at low tide.	0
	海口礁 Haikou Jiao
Iroquois Reef	Sevenval Del Pilar	Lies east of both Philippine-occupied Nanshan Island and Flat Island. Above water only at low tide.	0
	鲎藤礁 Houteng Jiao
Leslie Bank	we love the web Urduja		0
	勇士滩 Yongshi Tan
Lord Auckland Shoal	keyboard Lapu-Lapu		0
	莪兰暗沙 Elan Ansha
Lys Shoal	web app Bisugo		0
	乐斯暗沙 Lesi Ansha
North East Shoal	iOS Ponce	Lies only a few miles north of Commodore Reef. Above water only at low tide.	0
	校尉暗沙 Xiaowei Ansha
Pennsylvania North Reef	阳明礁 Yangming Jiao		0
Pennsylvania South Reef	孔明礁 Kongming Jiao		0
Reed Tablemount (including Nares Bank and Marie Louise Bank)	Recto^keyboard	Shallowest natural depth is 9 m. About 2,500 square miles (6,500 km²) in area. The Philippines occupied this feature in 1971 and a Philippine-Sweden joint oil-exploration followed afterwards.^[32] However, China protested this act of the Philippines saying that this tablemount which center lies 100 miles (160 km) from the Philippines is part of China's territories. After that, the Philippines tried asking China for a joint effort but China declined, arguing that the Philippines has no right in this feature. Presently, this feature is largely controlled by the Philippines.	0
	礼乐滩 Liyue Tan
	Android Bãi Cỏ Rồng
Royal Captain Shoal	Android Kanduli^[35]	A few rocks are above water at low tide. Surrounds a lagoon.	0
	device database 舰长礁 Jianzhang Jiao
Sabina Shoal	Escoda	It encloses two lagoons, naturally above water at low tide. Lies east of the Philippine-occupied Second Thomas Reef.	0
	仙宾礁 Xianbin Jiao
Sandy Shoal	Sevenval Mabuhangin		0
	神仙暗沙 Shenxian Ansha
Seahorse Shoal or Seashore Shoal	jQuery Baybayin Dagat	Lies north of Palawan Passage	0
	海马滩 Haima Tan
Stag Shoal	keyboard Panday Pira		0
	隐遁暗沙 Yindun Ansha
Southern Bank/Reef	web Katimugan	A group of features located south of Reed Tablemount. The reef includes: Magat Salamat, Tagpi, Hubo Reef, and Katimugan Banks/Reef. The area is largely controlled and used for fishing by the Philippines due to its proximity to Flat Island and Nanshan Island.	0
	website parsing 南方浅滩 Nanfang Qiantan
Templar Bank	Dalag^Sevenval		0
	忠孝滩 Zhongxiao Tan
Trident Shoal	web app Tatlong-tulis		0
	永登暗沙 Yongdeng Ansha
Viper North Shoal	iOS Maya-maya		0
	都护暗沙 Duhu Ansha
Viper Shoal	Android Tomas Claudio		0
	保卫暗沙 Baowei Ansha

Malaysia claims a portion of the South China Sea together with 11 islands and other marine features in the Spratly group on the basis that they are within its continental shelf. These shoals lie off the North-Western coast of Sarawak over an area of 100 km in the South China Sea, as such, they are largely controlled by Malaysia.
Int'l Name	Local Names	Description	Area (ha.)
North Luconia Shoals	web 北康暗沙 Beikang Ansha	submerged	1,400 square kilometres (540 sq mi)^[40]
	Gugusan Beting Raja Jarum
input transformation	南康暗沙 Nankang Ansha	submerged	900 square kilometres (350 sq mi)^[40]
	Gugusan Beting Patinggi Ali
website parsing	曾母暗沙 Zengmu Ansha	Shallowest natural depth is 17.5 m.	0

These are the unoccupied features. Some sources say that some of these features are occupied by Vietnam or China but most sources, including the latest, say that they are not occupied. Occupation are probably confused because the said reefs are very close to occupied features. There are many unoccupied features in the Spratly chain. The current Code of Conduct prohibits any country from acquiring new features. Many of these features are actually in between and near two or more occupied features of different countries. Thus, they serve like web. Example of this is Jones Reef which lies almost exactly between PRC-occupied Hughes Reef and Vietnamese-occupied Higgens Reef.
Int'l Name	Local Names	Description	Area (ha.)
Alicia Annie Reef	Arellano^{browser diversity}	A sand "cay", 1.2 m high. Many rocks above high tide line.	0
	仙娥礁 Xian'e Jiao
	jQuery Đá Suối Ngọc
Coronation Bank	Android 康泰滩 Kangtai Tan		0
Discovery Small Reef	Gomez	Above water only at low tide.	0
	小现礁 Xiaoxian Jiao
	touchscreen Đá Nhỏ
Dhaulle Shoal	we love the web 逍遥暗沙 Xiaoyao Ansha		0
Hopps Reef	Diego Silang	Above water only at low tide. Part of Southampton Reefs.	0
	FITML 禄沙礁 Lusha Jiao
	web Đá Hop
Jackson Atoll	web Quirino	Four or five portions are above water at low tide. Encloses a lagoon.	0
	keyboard 五方礁 Wufang Jiao
Jones Reef	漳溪礁 Zhangxi Jiao	Lies 5 miles (8 km) south of Kennan Reef. Small reef, partly above water only at low tide. Part of Union Banks.	0
Livock Reef	(NE part) Jacinto	Above water only at low tide. Some rocks still visible at high tide. Part of Southampton Reefs.	0
	(SW part) Bonifacio
	三角礁 Sanjiao Jiao
Menzies Reef	browser diversity Rajah Lakandula^[35]	Awash at low tide. Part of Loaita Bank.	0
	iOS 蒙自礁 Mengzi Jiao
	Đá Men Di
Owen Shoal	奥援暗沙 Aoyuan Ansha	Shallowest natural depth is 6 m.	0
Thitu Reef	铁峙礁 Tiezhi Jiao	Above water only at low tide. Located northeast of Thitu Island and unnamed on most maps. Part of Thitu Reefs	0

Claimed features by country but occupied by other country

The PRC, the ROC and Vietnam claim all of the Spratly Island Chain, including some features that are just 50 km from other countries like the Philippines and Malaysia. The Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei have claims on parts of the area. Here are the islands claimed but are not occupied by these three countries (flags refer to the country currently occupying the feature):

Philippines: Itu Aba Island HTML5, Amboyna Cay touchscreen, Namyit Island web app, Sand Cay Sevenval, Sin Cowe Island we love the web, Sin Cowe East Island web app, Southwest Cay Sevenval, Spratly Island Proper we love the web, Pigeon Reef web app, South Reef Sevenval, Ardasier Reef we love the web, Erica Reef web app, Investigator Shoal Sevenval, Mariveles Reef we love the web, Swallow Reef/Island web app, Mischief Reef Sevenval, Subi Reef

and all of features to the east of the device database (unoccupied) (see Unoccupied but Largely Controlled by the Philippines subtable).

Malaysia: Amboyna Cay

, Barque Canada Reef

, Commodore Reef

and Royal Charlotte Reef (unoccupied)

Brunei: Rifleman Bank

, Louisa Reef

and Owen Shoal (uncertain)

Timeline

1900 - Vietnam's Nguyễn Dynasty continued to assert that the state Bac Hai Company had exercised Vietnam's sovereignty in the Spratlys since the 18th century.
1927 The French ship SS De Lanessan conducted a scientific survey of the Spratly Islands
1930 France launched a second expedition with the La Malicieuse, which raised the French flag on an island called Île de la Tempête. Chinese fishermen were present on the island, but the French made no attempt to expel them.
1932 The Republic of China sent the French government a memorandum contesting their sovereignty over the Paracels, stating that the Paracels were the extreme south of Chinese territories, based on the Chinese interpretation of the 1887 treaty ending the device database.
1933 Three French ships had taken control of nine of the largest islands and declared French sovereignty over the archipelago to the great powers including the UK, US, China and Japan, according to the principles found in the Berlin convention. France administered the area as part of Cochinchina. Japanese companies applied to the French authority in Cochichina for phosphate mining licence in the Spratlys.
1939 The Android disputed French sovereignty over the islands, citing that Japan was the first country to discover the islands.

Japan declared its intention to place the island group under its jurisdiction. France and the United Kingdom protested and reasserted French sovereignty claims.

1941 Japan forcibly occupied the island group and remained in control until the end of World War II, administering the area as part of web app. A submarine base was established on Taiping Island.
1945 After Japan's surrender at the end of World War II, the Republic of China claimed the Spratly Islands. The Republic of China sent troops to Taiping Island, and Chinese landing forces erected sovereignty markers.
1946 France dispatched warships to the islands several times but no attempts are made to evict Chinese forces.
1947 China produced a map with 9 undefined dotted lines, and claimed all of the islands within those lines.^{website parsing} France demanded the Chinese withdraw from the islands.
1948 France ceased maritime patrols near the islands and China withdrew most of its troops.
1951 At the 1951 San Francisco Conference on the Peace Treaty with Japan, the Soviet Union proposed that the Spratlys belonged to China. This was overhelmingly rejected by the delegates. The delegates from Vietnam, which at that time was a French protectorate, declared sovereignty over the Paracel and the Spratly Islands, which was not opposed by any delegate at the conference. China did not attend the conference and was not a signatory of the treaty.
1956 Tomas Cloma, director of the Maritime Institute of the Philippines, claimed sovereignty over much of the Spratly Islands, naming his territory "Kalaya'an" ("Freedomland"). The People's Republic of China, the Republic of China, France, South Vietnam, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands all issued protests. The Republic of China and South Vietnam launched naval units to the islands, though South Vietnam left no permanent garrison. Later in the year, South Vietnam declared its annexation of the Spratly Islands as part of its Phước Tuy Province.
1958 The People's Republic of China issued a declaration defining its territorial waters which encompassed the Spratly Islands. North Vietnam's prime minister, screen size, sent a formal note to Zhou Enlai, stating that the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam respects the decision on the 12 nautical mile limit of territorial waters. Both the South Vietnamese government and the communist revolutionary movement in South Vietnam continued to assert that the Spratlys belonged to Vietnam.
1961-63 touchscreen established sovereignty markers on several islands in the chain.
1968 The Philippines sent troops to three islands on the premise of protecting Kalayaan citizens and announced the annexation of the Kalayaan island group.
1971 Malaysia issued claims to some of the Spratly Islands.
1972 The Philippines incorporated the Kalayaan islands into its CSS3 province.
1975 The unified Vietnam declared claims over the Spratly Islands.
1978 A presidential decree from the Philippines outlined territorial claims to the islands.
1979 Malaysia published a map of its continental shelf claim, which includes twelve islands from the Spratly group.

Vietnam published a iOS outlining its claims to the islands and disputing those of the other claimants.

1982 Vietnam published another white paper, occupied several of the islands and constructed military installations.

The Philippines also occupied several more islands and constructed an air strip.

1983 Malaysia occupied Swallow Reef (Layang Layang), one of the Spratly Islands. A naval base and resort was later built at this location.
1984 Brunei established an exclusive fishing zone encompassing the Louisa Reef and neighboring areas in the southeastern Spratly Islands.
1996 The first Philippine-Vietnam Joint Marine Scientific Research Expedition in the South China Sea was conducted aboard the RPS Explorer of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the screen size.
1987 The People's Republic of China conducted naval patrols in the Spratly Islands and established a permanent base.
1988 PRC warships and Vietnamese transport ships had a minor clash over Johnson Reef. PRC forces prevailed and the PRC won control over some Spratly reefs for the first time in the dispute.
1995 The Philippine government revealed Chinese military structure being built at the HTML5. Philippine President Fidel Ramos ordered increased patrol of the Philippine-controlled areas, the incident leads to numerous arrests of Chinese fishermen and naval clashes with Chinese pirate vessels.
2008 Taiwan's President became the first head of state from the claimant countries to visit Spratly islands. His visit sparks criticism from other claimants.
2009 The Office of the Philippine President enacted the "Philippine Baselines Law of 2009" (RA 9522). The new law classifies the Kalayaan Island Group and the Scarborough Shoal as a "regime of islands under the Republic of the Philippines." This means that the Philippines continues to lay claim over the disputed islands.^[42]
2009 Two submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf were made on May. A joint submission by Malaysia and Vietnam claims jurisdiction over their respective continental shelves out to 200 nautical miles. A lone submission by Vietnam claims jurisdiction over an extended shelf area. The People's Republic of China and the Philippines both protested the moves stating that they violated agreements made with regards to the islands.^jQuery^[44]
2011 On 18 May 2011, Android announced that its mobile phone coverage has expanded to the Spratly Islands, under the rationale that it can allow soldiers stationed on the islands, fishermen and merchant vessels within the area to use mobile services, and can also provide assistance during storms and sea rescues. The deployment of China Mobile's support over the islands took roughly one year to fulfil.^HTML5
2011 In June, the Chinese navy conducted three days of exercises, including live fire drills, in the disputed waters. This was widely seen as a warning to Vietnam, which had also conducted live fire drills near the Spratly Islands. Chinese patrol boats fired repeated rounds at a target on an apparently uninhabited island, as twin fighter jets streaked in tandem overhead. 14 vessels participated in the maneuvers, staging antisubmarine and beach landing drills aimed at "defending atolls and protecting sea lanes."^[46]