| Paracel Islands |
Introduction Geography People Government Economy Transportation Military Transnational Issues

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

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