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CATEGORIES
◆ ECONOMY(1 fields)
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.
◆ GEOGRAPHY(17 fields)
Area
total: ca. 7.75 sq km land: ca. 7.75 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
NA
Climate
tropical
Coastline
518 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m
Environment - current issues
NA
Geographic coordinates
16 30 N, 112 00 E
Geography - note
composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group
Irrigated land
0 sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)
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
Map references
Southeast Asia
Maritime claims
NA
Natural hazards
typhoons
Natural resources
none
Terrain
mostly low and flat
◆ GOVERNMENT(1 fields)
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Paracel Islands
◆ INTRODUCTION(1 fields)
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 all 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.
◆ MILITARY(1 fields)
Military - note
occupied by China
◆ PEOPLE AND SOCIETY(1 fields)
Population
no indigenous inhabitants note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons
◆ TRANSNATIONAL ISSUES(1 fields)
Disputes - international
occupied by China, also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam
◆ TRANSPORTATION(3 fields)
Airports
1 (2012) country comparison to the world: 216
Airports - with paved runways
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2012)
Ports and terminals
small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island