Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 6,394,422 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males: 4,927,346 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 207,332 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $11.5 billion (FY96/97)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 3.6% (FY96/97)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: involved in complex dispute over the Spratly
Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, and possibly
Brunei; Paracel Islands occupied by China, but claimed by Vietnam and
Taiwan; Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto (Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu
Tai) claimed by China and Taiwan
Illicit drugs: considered an important heroin transit point; major problem with domestic consumption of methamphetamines and heroin