|
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. The islands are claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam. |
Geography |
Paracel Islands |
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 - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
|
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
|
Population:
|
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons (July 2004 est.)
|
Government |
Paracel Islands |
Country name:
|
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Paracel Islands
|
Economy - overview:
|
China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism.
|
Transportation |
Paracel Islands |
Waterways:
|
none
|
Ports and harbors:
|
small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island being expanded
|
Airports:
|
1 (2003 est.)
|
Airports - with paved runways:
|
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2003 est.)
|
Military - note:
|
occupied by China
|
Transnational Issues |
Paracel Islands |
Disputes - international:
|
occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam
|
|