Spratly Islands Travel Forum

I just noticed this was listed under the Asia forums. These tiny islands are uninhabited except for occasional naval forces from neighboring countries, most notably China. I'm sure no VT members have been there or will ever ask a travel related question about Spratly Islands.

I agree perhaps Aabebi is an exciting VT member living on a rock in the vast Atlantic Ocean but nobody lives on Spratly Islands and nobody will ever go there.

You're right. I just checked Daarth's travel wish list. I wish him good luck finding a single malt on Pitcairn Island.

hmm..

actually, there are some people already living on the some of the islands. They are the focus of a lot of attention right now. Instead of putting up naval forces or military outposts in the islands, the Philippines has allowed some Filipinos to establish their own community there. Livestock has been introduce and so far, the communities are thriving.

Probably the forum is for when countries want to argue or deliberate on which country really have the right to ownership of the islands.

Also... who knows if someday it could be a tourist destination. Looks picturesque whenever featured on the news or papers.

I Fully intend to open the first chain of Spanish restaurants at the Spralty.
One in each and every islet.

There you go... there is a use for the Spratly Islands forum; I never knew heard of them before, and now I already know more about them then most people do! This is what's so great about VT, you learn about the most unusual places.

Confucius, thanks for bringing the islands under my attention!

Aukje

I thought the Spratly is under dispute, which country actually owns them?

They are a Spanish stronghold.

Nice to see the Spanish holding on to something after losing the Philippines, though the Spratlys don't really matter atoll!
Time to attack those pesky goats on the islands off of Morocco again!

The Spratly Islands are claimed by both Malaysia and Philippines and I had an idea that Indonsia had a claim as well.
It is a mildly fought dispute at the moment and the 2 (or 3) governments are have referred the dispute to the World Court which is unlikely to consider the case for a few years.
I expect (tho i don't really know) that tourism is not a question there and in view of the dispute, how do you get there, and who do you get a visa from??
There are a few sites on the net if you search for info on it.

Don't forget China is also claiming the islands as theirs.

Geographically speaking, the Spratly's is within the Philippine area of responsibility.

What makes it very very attractive to the countries in the area is the rich oil deposits found under. Atoll it may be on top but below..... money money money.

Aaah, there is a hot dispute in the VT forum as well. These islands are in the middle of South China Sea. China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Phillipines and Indonesia have claims over these islands. The prize? Oil of course, lots of it. At Malaysia's island ie. Layang Layang, there are diving sites said to be more beautiful than Simpadan Island. There are diving trips organised from Kota Kinabalu.

The Spratlys are not owned by anyone. They are a small group of atolls, not really islands, in the South China Sea between Vietnam and the Philippines. The "islands" are claimed by China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei. Indonesia has been involved in the talks over the Spratlys. Although no country "owns" them, I do believe that Malaysia is developing some sections for tourism and have tours. There might be diving tours as well. The largest "island" is under 2 kilometers long and has a Taiwanese garrison on it. Don't know how safe they are, but I plan to visit them!

Did someone mention my name?

I did, but it was so long ago!
Even Ivan made an appearance in this thread. Real retro VT!

Oh NO!, the Philippines was not lost by Spain. It was sold to the then emerging power - the USA.

Spain gave the Philippines what the Filipinos conceived as the greatest gift: Christianity-the gift of superstition and the fiesta habit.

Spratly? At high tide, there are NO Spratly Islands!