Paracel Islands (PF)
Introduction
| Background | 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. |
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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
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| Geographic coordinates |
16 30 N, 112 00 E
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| Map references |
Southeast Asia
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| Area |
total: NA sq km
land: NA sq km
water: 0 sq km
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| Area - comparative |
NA
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| Land boundaries |
0 km
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| Coastline |
518 km
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| Maritime claims |
NA
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| Climate |
tropical
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| Terrain |
mostly low and flat
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| Elevation extremes |
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m
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| Natural resources |
none
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| Land use |
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
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| Irrigated land |
0 sq km
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| Natural hazards |
typhoons
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| Environment - current issues |
NA
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| Geography - note |
composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group
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People
| Population |
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons
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Government
| Country name |
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Paracel Islands
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Economy
| Economy - overview |
China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism.
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Transportation
| Airports |
1 (2007)
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| Airports - with paved runways |
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
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| Ports and terminals |
small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island being expanded
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Military
| Military - note |
occupied by China
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Transnational Issues
| Disputes - international |
occupied by China, also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam
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This page was last updated on 20 March, 2008
