Paracel Islands

Paracel Islands

Introduction

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 Woody Island with an airfield and artificial harbor. The islands also 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: 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% (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 and Society

Population

no indigenous inhabitants
note:there are scattered Chinese garrisons

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

NA

Government

Country name

conventional long form: none
conventional short form:Paracel Islands

Economy

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

Airports

1 (2010)
country comparison to the world:229

Airports – with paved runways

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m:1 (2010)

Ports and terminals

small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island

Military

Military – note

occupied by China

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

occupied by China, also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam

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