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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
mostly low and flat
◆ GOVERNMENT(1 fields)
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Paracel Islands
◆ INTRODUCTION(1 fields)
Background
This archipelago is surrounded by productive fishing grounds and potentially large oil reserves. In 1932, French Indochina annexed the islands and set up a weather station on Prattle Island; maintenance was continued by its successor Vietnam. China has occupied the Paracel Islands since 1974, when its troops captured a South Vietnamese garrison occupying the western islands. However, the islands are still claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan.
◆ MILITARY(1 fields)
Military - note
occupied by China
◆ PEOPLE(1 fields)
Population
no indigenous inhabitants note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons (July 2001 est.)
◆ TRANSNATIONAL ISSUES(1 fields)
Disputes - international
occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam
◆ TRANSPORTATION(4 fields)
Airports
1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 est.)
Ports and harbors
small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island being expanded
Waterways
none