The geographical location of the South China Sea is very important. It is a route that fishermen must take, is rich in fishery resources and has very rich petroleum reserves. This has made it a bone of contention between the countries in the region, resulting in a never-ending conflict, especially in the Spratly Islands. Each littoral state has occupied islands as a means of declaring their sovereignty over them, so there is a high level of tension in the area. Even a very slight change can have wide-reaching ramifications.
　　The Spratly Islands were historical and conventional ROC territory, but because of the distance, they could not be controlled effectively. As a result, many of the islands have been occupied by other countries, which have developed them actively. The most successful example is the way in which Malaysia has managed Swallow Reef. They have developed tourism and delimited the islands as falling within their jurisdiction; the methods they have used to declare sovereignty deserve to be studied carefully.