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

Introduction

Paracel Islands

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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. The islands are claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.

Geography

Paracel Islands

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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 water: 0 sq km land: NA 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% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:	0 sq km (1998 est.)
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

Paracel Islands

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Population:

no indigenous inhabitants note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons (July 2003 est.)

Government

Paracel Islands

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Country name:

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Paracel Islands

Economy

Paracel Islands

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Economy - overview:

China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism.

Transportation

Paracel Islands

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Waterways:	none
Ports and harbors:	small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island being expanded
Airports:	1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:	total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)

Military

Paracel Islands

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Military - note:

occupied by China

Transnational Issues

Paracel Islands

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Disputes - international:

occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam

This page was last updated on 1 August, 2003