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Paracel Islands
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Background:
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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:
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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 |
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Geographic coordinates: | 16 30 N, 112 00 E |
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Map references:
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Southeast Asia |
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Area:
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total: NA sq km
water: 0 sq km land: NA sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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NA |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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518 km |
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Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
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NA |
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Climate:
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tropical |
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Terrain:
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mostly low and flat |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m |
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Natural resources:
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none |
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Land use:
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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0 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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typhoons |
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Environment - current issues:
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NA |
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Geography - note:
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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:
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no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons (July 2004 est.) |
| Government | Paracel Islands |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Paracel Islands |
| Economy | Paracel Islands |
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Economy - overview:
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China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism. |
| Transportation | Paracel Islands |
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Waterways:
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none |
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Ports and harbors:
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small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island being expanded |
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Airports:
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1 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2003 est.) |
| Military | Paracel Islands |
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Military - note:
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occupied by China |
| Transnational Issues | Paracel Islands |
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Disputes - international:
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occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam |