The Spratly Islands are a collection of more than 100 small islands and reefs in the South China Sea. But this definition is very arbitrary, since most formations are tidal–flooded shoals, rocky cliffs and reefs that sometimes collapse and reappear. Several States fully or partially claim the territory of the archipelago.
Geographical location and politics
The Spratly Islands are surrounded by rich fishing grounds and potentially deposits of gas and oil. They are located next to several major shipping lanes in the central part of the South China Sea.
The total area of the archipelago is less than 5 square kilometers. Despite this, the Spratly Islands are fully claimed by Vietnam, Taiwan and China. Malaysia and the Philippines identify several groups of islands and reefs, which they consider their marine zone. Brunei believes that the southern part of the Spratly chain continues the continental shelf, so the resources around it are in its area of interest. Brunei officials have made contradictory statements over the years, and there is no consensus on this.
Population and tourism opportunities
The Spratly Islands are called Truongsha by the Vietnamese, which means "long shoals" or "extended sandy areas". This name was mentioned in old Vietnamese maps and documents. This is one of the ways to emphasize Vietnam's historical connection with the group of reef islands, which are located 500 kilometers south of the Paracel Islands and about 500 kilometers from the southern coast of Vietnam.
Most of the Spratly Islands are uninhabited, there is no fertile land, and most areas lack fresh water. In some places there are small garrisons (for example, Vietnamese, Chinese, Filipino), infrastructure facilities like airfields. There is no permanent civilian population in the usual sense. As an exception, Layang Layang Reef, controlled by Malaysia, where a dive resort is open and there are regular flights. Other island formations have several unpaved runways for light aircraft.
How to get
The Spratly Islands are not designed for a massive tourist flow. There is no appropriate infrastructure here, and the territorial dispute has not yet been resolved, and it is not known how long it will last. It is only known that "Memorial flights" are sometimes conducted for Vietnamese citizens. To go on a special naval patriotic expedition, you need to pass the selection process.
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