Adjectives: Paracel Islands
Nicknames: ?
Nicknames: ?
The Paracel Islands are surrounded by productive fishing grounds and by potential oil and gas reserves. In 1932, French Indochina annexed the islands and set up a weather station on Pattle Island; maintenance was continued by its successor, Vietnam. China has occupied the Paracel Islands since 1974, when its troops seized a South Vietnamese garrison occupying the western islands. China built a military installation on Mischief Reef in 1999. The islands are claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.
World Factbook (2009)*
*Note: The World Factbook is produced by the CIA and includes a healthy dose of propaganda.
Geography
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
Geographc 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%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
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
People
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons
Government
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Paracel Islands
Economy
Economy - overview:
China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism.
Communications
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Transportation
Airports:
1 (2008)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2008)
Ports and terminals:
small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island being expanded
Military
Military - note:
occupied by China
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international:
occupied by China, also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam
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