South China Sea

The South China Sea is a large body of salted water located in the Pacific Ocean, south of China, northwest of the Philippines, east of Cambodia and Vietnam. Around the 1500s the South China Sea was referred to as the Sea of Cham after the kingdom of Champa which was formed around 192 AD during the breakup of the Han dynasty of China. In the Philippines part of the sea is referred to as the West Philippine Sea, in Vietnam the sea is referred to as the East Sea.

South China Sea Facts for Kids

• The South China Sea links the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean thus connecting East Asia, Middle East, and Europe with shipping lines. Approximately one half of all the shipping boats in the world pass through the Sea.
• The South China Sea is bordered by eight countries which are the People’s Republic of China, Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, Brunei, Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore.
• The surface area of the South China Sea is about 3,500,000 km2 making the sea larger than the Asian country of India.
• There are more than 250 small islands, reefs, sandbars, cays within the South China Sea. Many of the Island in the sea have no indigenous people and due to high tide many of the islands are permanently submerged under water.
• Islands on the South China Sea includes, the Spratly Islands, the Paracel Islands, the Pratas Islands, the Macclesfield bank, Islands of Guangxi, Islands of Hainan, and Hong Kong Island.
• Around 37% of reef fish species and 76% of coral species are found in the South China Sea.
• There is a big thriving fish industry in the South China Sea. According to estimates approximately 10% of the commercially caught fish in the world are from the South China Sea.
• Many rivers flow directly into the South China Sea among which are the Jiulong River, Rajang River, Mekong River, Min River, Pasig River, Pampanga River and Pearl River.
• The South China Sea is home to roughly 30% of the coral reefs in the world.
• The South China Sea is home to huge reserve of oil and gas. It is estimated that the oil reserves in the sea is around 28 billion barrels in total.
• China and Taiwan both claim nearly all the sea while Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei each have overlapping claims to part of the sea.

Question: What is the surface area of the South China Sea?

Answer: The surface area of the South China Sea is about 3,500,000 km2

Question: What are the natural resources found beneath the South China Sea?

Answer: Oil and Natural Gas are the major natural resources found beneath the South China Sea. It is estimated that the oil reserves in the sea is around 28 billion barrels in total.

Question: Name some of the rivers that flow into the South China Sea

Answer: Some of the rivers that flow into the South China Sea are the Jiulong River, Rajang River, Mekong River, Min River, Pasig River, Pampanga River and Pearl River.

Question: How many percentage of Coral reefs are found in the South China Sea?

Answer: About 30% of the coral reefs in the world are found in the South China Sea.

Question: Identify some of the Islands on the South China Sea

Answer: Some of the Islands on the South China Sea includes, the Spratly Islands, the Paracel Islands, the Pratas Islands, the Macclesfield bank, Islands of Guangxi, and the Islands of Hainan

Question: How many percentage of reef fish species and coral species are found in the South China Sea?

Answer: There are around 37% of reef fish species and 76% of coral species in the South China Sea

Question: How many countries border the South China Sea and what are the countries?

Answer: The South China Sea is bordered by eight countries and they are China, Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, Brunei, Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore.