what are the historical background of the spratly islands?

Question

what are the countries involved? who got the most and who got the least? when did the dispute end?

are there people living in the islands?

Answer 1

They are a group of about 100 coral islands in the South China Sea. Read about them below.

Answer 2

The dispute among China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, and the Philippines is ongoing; it has not been resolved. The first three nations claim sovereignty over the entire group of islands, and the latter three claim only various parts. The islands may have been settled by Vietnamese and Chinese fishermen as early as 3 BCE. France claimed part of the chain on behalf of Vietnam in the 1930s, and it was occupied by the Japanese during WWII. It was only after oil was discovered there in 1968 that the situation really escalated. It is the world's fourth largest oil reserve, and that's the main motivation for the dispute.

Many of the islands have small contingents of soldiers stationed, a few have sizeable military ouposts, and only a few have civilian inhabitants. Among them, Thitu island has about 300 residents. There are also a few small resorts on the islands.

Answer 3

Spratly Islands:
group of reefs in the South China Sea, located midway between Vietnam and the Philippines and claimed by several countries. Of the 12 main islets, the largest is the 90-acre (36-hectare) Itu Aba. Another, called Spratly Island or Storm Island, measures 900 feet by 1,500 feet (275 m by 450 m). Turtles and seabirds are the only permanent inhabitants.

Before 1970 the main significance attached to the islands was their strategic location. France held them between 1933 and 1939. During World War II Japan occupied the archipelago and developed it as a submarine base. After the war China established a garrison on Itu Aba, which the Chinese Nationalists maintained after their exile to Taiwan. When Japan renounced its claim to the islands in 1951, Taiwan, mainland China, and Vietnam all declared themselves the rightful owners, and the Philippines added a claim based on proximity in 1955.

In the 1970s South Vietnam occupied three of the Spratly Islands (including Spratly Island itself) to forestall a Chinese occupation. Taiwanese troops remained on Itu Aba. The Philippines then moved forces onto seven of the remaining islets and built an airstrip (1976) on Pagasa Island. By the late 20th century, Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Malaysia (with its occupation of Turumbu Layang-Layang reef [June 1983]), and the Philippines all had conflicting claims to the Spratlys, supported (except in the case of China) by garrisons on various islands.

Answer 4

The first possible recorded human interaction with the Spratly Islands dates back as far as 3BC. This is based on the discovery that the people of Nan Yueh in the south of China (Vietnamese) and Old Champa kingdom fishermen Old Champa kingdom had been visiting the Spratly Islands, together with other South China Sea Islands for fishing annually.

1927The French ship SS De Lanessan conducts a scientific survey of the Spratly Islands
1930France launches a second expedition with the La Malicieuse, which raises the French flag on an island called Ile de la Tempete. Chinese fishermen are present on the island, but the French make no attempt to expel them.
1932The Republic of China sends the French government a memorandum contesting their sovereignty over the Spratlys, based on the Chinese interpretation of the 1887 treaty ending the Sino-French War.
1933Three French ships take control of nine of the largest islands and declare French sovereignty over the archipelago. France administers the area as part of Cochinchina. The Empire of Japan disputes French sovereignty over the islands, citing evidence of phosphate mining by private Japanese citizens.
1939Japan declares its intention to place the island group under its jurisdiction. France and the United Kingdom protest and reassert French sovereignty claims.
1941Japan forcibly occupies the island group and remains in control until the end of World War II, administering the area as part of Taiwan. A submarine base is established on Itu Aba.
1945After Japan's surrender at the end of World War II, France and the Republic of China reassert claims on the Spratly Islands. China sends troops to the islands and landing forces erect sovereignty markers.
1946France dispatches warships to the islands several times but no attempts are made to evict Chinese forces.
1947France demands the Chinese withdraw from the islands.
1948France ceases maritime patrols near the islands and China withdraws most of its troops.
1951At the 1951 San Francisco Conference on the Peace Treaty with Japan, delegates from Vietnam – which, at that time, was still French-controlled – claim sovereignty over the Paracel and the Spratly Islands.
1956Tomas Cloma, director of the Maritime Institute of the Philippines, claims sovereignty over much of the Spratly Islands, naming his territory "Kalaya'an" ("Freedomland"). The People's Republic of China, the Republic of China, France, South Vietnam, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands all issue protests. The Republic of China and South Vietnam launch naval units to the islands, though South Vietnam leaves no permanent garrison. North Vietnam supports the PRC's claims, declaring that "according to Vietnamese data, the Xisha and Nansha Islands are historically part of Chinese territory." Later in the year, South Vietnam declares its annexation of the Spratly Islands as part of its Phuoc Tuy province.
1958The People's Republic of China issues a declaration defining its territorial waters which encompasses the Spratly Islands. North Vietnam's prime minister, Pham Van Dong, sends a formal note to Zhou Enlai, stating that "The Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam respects this decision."
1961-3 South Vietnam establishes sovereignty markers on several islands in the chain.
1968The Philippines sends troops to three islands on the premise of protecting Kalayaan citizens and announces the annexation of the Kalayaan island group.
1971Malaysia issues claims to some of the Spratly Islands.
1972The Philippines incorporates the Kalayaan islands into its Palawan province.
1975A recently-unified Vietnam declares claims over the Spratly Islands.
1978A presidential decree from the Philippines outlines territorial claims to the islands.
1979Malaysia publishes a map of its continental shelf claim, which includes twelve islands from the Spratly group. Vietnam publishes a white paper outlining its claims to the islands and disputing those of the other claimants.
1982Vietnam publishes another white paper, occupies several of the islands and constructs military installations. The Philippines also occupies several more islands and constructs an air strip.
1983Malaysia occupies Swallow Reef (Layang Layang), one of the Spratly Islands. A naval base and resort was later built at this location.
1984Brunei establishes an exclusive fishing zone encompassing the Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands, but does not publicly claim the area.
1987The People's Republic of China conducts naval patrols in the Spratly Islands and establishes a permanent base.
1988PRC and Vietnam ships clash over Johnson Reef. The PRC forces prevail and retains control of the area.

Population:no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered garrisons occupied by personnel of several claimant states (2004)