SELECT EDITION
CATEGORIES
◆ ECONOMY(1 fields)
Economy - overview
China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism.
◆ GEOGRAPHY(16 fields)
Area
total: NA sq km land: NA 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
Irrigated land
0 sq km (1993)
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100%
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
NA
◆ GOVERNMENT(2 fields)
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Paracel Islands
Data code
PF
◆ MILITARY(1 fields)
Military - note
occupied by China
◆ PEOPLE(1 fields)
Population
no indigenous inhabitants note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons (July 2000 est.)
◆ TRANSNATIONAL ISSUES(1 fields)
Disputes - international
occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]
◆ TRANSPORTATION(3 fields)
Airports
1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Ports and harbors
small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island being expanded