A group of small islands, coral reefs, and
sandbars dispersed over a distance of 965
km/600 mi in the South China Sea. Used as a
submarine base by the Japanese during World
War II, the islands are claimed in whole or
part by the People's Republic of China,
Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam (which calls the
islands Truong Sa), and the Philippines
(which calls them Kalayaan). The islands are
of strategic importance, commanding the sea
passage from Japan to Singapore, and in 1976
oil was discovered.