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

In general, information available as of 1 January 2003
was used in the preparation of The World Factbook 2003.


This page was last updated on 1 August, 2003


Map of Paracel Islands

Legend: Definition Definition Field Listing Field Listing Rank Order Rank Order
   Introduction    Paracel Islands
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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. The islands are claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.
   Geography    Paracel Islands
Location:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
16 30 N, 112 00 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Southeast Asia
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: NA sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: NA sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
518 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
mostly low and flat
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
none
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
typhoons
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group
   People    Paracel Islands
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons (July 2003 est.)
   Government    Paracel Islands
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Paracel Islands
   Economy    Paracel Islands
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism.

   Transportation    Paracel Islands
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing
none
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island being expanded
Airports:
Definition Field Listing
1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
   Military    Paracel Islands
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
occupied by China
   Transnational Issues    Paracel Islands
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam

This page was last updated on 1 August, 2003


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