Contents
-BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD
The World Factbook. 2008.
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 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. | | | | | 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 | | 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%
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. | | | | | Transportation | | | | | Airports: | 1 (2007) | | Airports—with paved runways: | total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007) | | 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 | |
