Southeast Asia: Transition among the Nagas - Dragons and Tigers: A Geography of South, East and Southeast Asia - page 407

Occupied by:

The Spratly
Islands

Northeast Cay

VIETNAM

Southwest Cay

THE PHILIPPINES

Pag-asa

West Y ork

MALA YSIA

Subi Reef

11 N

Flat

Lankian Cay
Loaita

T AIWAN

Nashnan

Petley Reef
Eldad Reef
Namyit

CHINA

Itu Aba

Great Discovery Reef

Gaven Reef

Sin Cowe
Johnson Reef

Fiery Cross Reef

Collins Reef

Sand Cay

Pearson Reef
Alison Reef

Central Reef

Cuarteron Reef

Mischief Reef

West Reef

East Reef

Cornwallia Reef

Ladd Reef

Palawan

Spratly

Commodore Reef

Barque Canada Reef

PHILIPPINES

Mariveles Reef

N

Amboyna Cay

Ardasier Bank

Swallow Reef

South China Sea

0 200 km 100 km

MALAYSIA

Figure 14-17
Note how various countries have occupied islands of the Spratlys. China claims them all.

Natuna gas fields in the southern Spratlys, an area partly
claimed by China. There were clashes between China
and the Philippines in 1995 because China occupied one
island within 124 miles (200 km) of the Philippine is-
land of Palawan. That same year, Indonesia expressed
concern over China' s claim to the natural gas fields.
Some have suggested joint development of this region,
but no multilateral agreements on dividing or exploiting
the region have yet been reached.

PIRACY
T Traders have been harassed in the Southeast Asian waters
for centuries. The nomadic seafaring Bugis from Sulawesi
were once infamous as pirates and continue to ply goods
throughout Indonesia. But piracy is not just a thing of the
past. Pirates continue to attack from the Straits of Malacca
to the Celebes Sea. Cargo ships, fishing vessels, passenger
liners, and refugee boats are all victims.