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Paracel Islands | |
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Introduction
Geography
People
Government
Economy
Transportation
Military
Transnational Issues Print This Frame Airports Hotels
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| Paracel Islands | Introduction | Top of Page |
| Background: | This archipelago is surrounded by productive fishing grounds and potentially large oil reserves. In 1932, French Indochina annexed the islands and set up a weather station on Prattle Island; maintenance was continued by its successor Vietnam. China has occupied the Paracel Islands since 1974, when its troops captured a South Vietnamese garrison occupying the western islands. However, the islands are still claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan. |
| Paracel Islands | Geography | Top of Page |
| Location: | Southeastern Asia, group of small islands and reefs in the South China Sea, about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to the northern Philippines |
| Geographic coordinates: | 16 30 N, 112 00 E |
| Map references: | Southeast Asia |
| Area: |
total:
NA sq km
land: NA sq km water: 0 sq km |
| Area - comparative: | NA |
| Land boundaries: | 0 km |
| Coastline: | 518 km |
| Maritime claims: | NA |
| Climate: | tropical |
| Terrain: | mostly low and flat |
| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point:
South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m |
| Natural resources: | none |
| Land use: |
arable land:
0%
permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% |
| Irrigated land: | 0 sq km (1993) |
| Natural hazards: | typhoons |
| Environment - current issues: | NA |
| Geography - note: | composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group |
| Paracel Islands | People | Top of Page |
| Population: |
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons (July 2001 est.) |
| Paracel Islands | Government | Top of Page |
| Country name: |
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form: Paracel Islands |
| Paracel Islands | Economy | Top of Page |
| Economy - overview: | China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism. |
| Paracel Islands | Transportation | Top of Page |
| Waterways: | none |
| Ports and harbors: | small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island being expanded |
| Airports: | 1 (2000 est.) |
| Airports - with paved runways: |
total:
1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 est.) |
| Paracel Islands | Military | Top of Page |
| Military - note: | occupied by China |
| Paracel Islands | Transnational Issues | Top of Page |
| Disputes - international: | occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam |