Policies, activities and history of the Philippines in Spratly Islands

The Philippines, along with Vietnam, People's Republic of China, Republic of China (Taiwan), Malaysia and Brunei, is a claimant country in the disputed Spratly Islands group. Currently the Philippines is occupying nine features (seven islands, three reefs): As a comparison, Vietnam occupies six islands, seventeen reefs and three banks. The Republic of China (Taiwan) has one island and one reef. Malaysia has one artificial island and five reefs. The People's Republic of China has eight reefs. Also, the Philippines has some features that are "virtually occupied". These are features that lie in very close proximity to Philippine-occupied features and that can be seen within the horizon. (A 15 meter-height vision gives about 9 miles (14 km)...