61.   Sovereignty over the islands could affect fishing rights in the region, and oil and mineral deposits may also be at stake.

62.   The company has been conducting surveys in several districts to determine the commercial viability of the mineral deposits.

63.   The country is believed to hold vast untapped mineral deposits.

64.   The islands are believed to lie atop potentially valuable oil, gas and mineral deposits.

65.   The islands are valued because they are believed to sit atop oil and other mineral deposits and because they straddle important sea lanes.

66.   The islands, a group of atolls and sand spits in the South China Sea, are believed to lie atop rich oil and mineral deposits.

67.   The Newfoundland government has much at stake in any delay involving the mineral deposit.

68.   The Spratlys, which are also claimed by China and Taiwan, are near strategic shipping lanes and are believed to lie atop oil and mineral deposits.

69.   The surrounding waters are rich in marine life and the sea bed is believed to contain vast mineral deposits.

70.   The seabed beneath them is believed to hold oil and valuable mineral deposits.