The World Factbook | ||
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Paracel Islands |
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Introduction | Paracel Islands |
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. China built a military installation on Mischief Reef in 1999. The islands are claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam. |
Geography | Paracel Islands |
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 |
Geographic coordinates:
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16 30 N, 112 00 E |
Map references:
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Southeast Asia |
Area:
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total: NA sq km
land: NA sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative:
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NA |
Land boundaries:
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0 km |
Coastline:
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518 km |
Maritime claims:
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NA |
Climate:
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tropical |
Terrain:
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mostly low and flat |
Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m |
Natural resources:
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none |
Land use:
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005) |
Irrigated land:
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0 sq km |
Natural hazards:
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typhoons |
Environment - current issues:
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NA |
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 |
Population:
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no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons |
Government | Paracel Islands |
Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Paracel Islands |
Economy | Paracel Islands |
Economy - overview:
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China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism. |
Transportation | Paracel Islands |
Airports:
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1 (2008) |
Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2008) |
Ports and terminals:
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small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island being expanded |
Military | Paracel Islands |
Military - note:
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occupied by China |
Transnational Issues | Paracel Islands |
Disputes - international:
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occupied by China, also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam |
This page was last updated on 23 April, 2009 |