2003 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2003 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Airports
1 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways
- total
- 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002) Military Paracel Islands
Area
- land
- NA sq km
- total
- NA sq km
- water
- 0 sq km
Area - comparative
NA
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
Climate
tropical
Coastline
518 km
Country name
- conventional long form
- none
- conventional short form
- Paracel Islands Economy Paracel Islands
Disputes - international
occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
Economy - overview
China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism. Transportation Paracel Islands
Elevation extremes
- highest point
- unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m
- lowest point
- South China Sea 0 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 People Paracel Islands
Irrigated land
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
- arable land
- 0%
- other
- 100% (1998 est.)
- permanent crops
- 0%
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
Military - note
occupied by China Transnational Issues Paracel Islands
Natural hazards
typhoons
Natural resources
none
Population
- no indigenous inhabitants
- note
- there are scattered Chinese garrisons (July 2003 est.) Government Paracel Islands
Ports and harbors
small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island being expanded
Terrain
mostly low and flat
Waterways
none