Taiwan, like mainland China, lays claim to 53 rocks, shoals and reefs in the South China Sea known as the Spratly Islands. The Spratlys are also claimed by Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Vietnam. The claims wouldn’t be taken too seriously except that there is possibly oil under these islands, which has led to the area becoming heavily fortified. The largest islet in the Spratly chain is occupied by Taiwan’s military.