East & Southeast Asia :: Paracel Islands

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## Introduction ::Paracel Islands

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 all the Paracel Islands since 1974, when its troops seized a South Vietnamese garrison occupying the western islands. China built a military installation on Woody Island with an airfield and artificial harbor. The islands also are claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.

## Geography ::Paracel Islands

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: ca. 7.75 sq km land: ca. 7.75 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% (2011)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (2011)
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 and Society ::Paracel Islands

Population:
no indigenous inhabitants note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons

## Government ::Paracel Islands

Country name:
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Paracel Islands

## Economy ::Paracel Islands

Economy - overview:
The islands have the potential for oil and gas development. Waters around the islands support commercial fishing, but the islands themselves are not populated on a permanent basis.

## Transportation ::Paracel Islands

Airports:
1 (2012) country comparison to the world: 230
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2012)
Ports and terminals:
small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island

## Military ::Paracel Islands

Military - note:
occupied by China

## Transnational Issues ::Paracel Islands

Disputes - international:
occupied by China, also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam

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