South China Sea Islands facts for kids
The South China Sea Islands are a group of over 250 tiny landforms in the South China Sea. These include small islands, atolls (ring-shaped coral reefs), cays (small sandy islands), shoals (shallow areas), reefs, and sandbars (narrow strips of sand). Most of these islands are too small or difficult to live on, so they are uninhabited (no one lives there).
Even though they are small, these islands and the seafloor around them hold valuable resources. People believe there are large amounts of minerals, natural gas, and oil hidden beneath the sea.
Contents
Who Claims the Islands?
Many countries claim ownership of these islands and the waters around them. This is because of the valuable resources and the important shipping routes in the South China Sea. The main groups of islands and areas that are claimed by different countries include:
Spratly Islands
The Spratly Islands are claimed by many countries. These include the People's Republic of China (often called China), the Republic of China (Taiwan), Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and the Philippines.
Paracel Islands
The Paracel Islands are claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
Pratas Islands
The Pratas Islands are claimed by China and Taiwan.
Macclesfield Bank
Macclesfield Bank is an area claimed by China, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
Scarborough Shoal
Scarborough Shoal is a rocky area claimed by China and Taiwan.
Images for kids
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A monument of South Vietnam on Southwest Cay, Spratly Islands, claiming the cay as part of Vietnamese territory. This was used from 1956 until 1975.
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A map of the South China Sea Islands made in 1947 by the Republic of China.
See also
In Spanish: Islas del mar de la China Meridional para niños
