| Introduction - Paracel Islands: |
| Country | Paracel Islands |
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| 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. |
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| Location - Paracel Islands: |
| 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 |
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| Geographic coordinates | 16 30 N, 112 00 E |
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| Map references | Southeast Asia |
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| Area | total: NA sq km
land: NA sq km
water: 0 sq km |
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| Area comparative | NA |
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| Land boundaries | 0 km |
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| Coastline | 518 km |
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| Maritime claims | NA |
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| Climate | tropical |
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| Terrain | mostly low and flat |
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| Elevation extremes | lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m |
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| Natural resources | none |
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| Land use | arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005) |
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| Irrigated land | 0 sq km |
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| Natural hazards | typhoons |
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| Environment current issues | NA |
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| Geography note | composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group |
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| People - Paracel Islands: |
| Population | no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons |
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| Government - Paracel Islands: |
| Country name | conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Paracel Islands |
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| Economy - Paracel Islands: |
| Economy overview | China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism. |
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| Communications - Paracel Islands: |
| Transportation - Paracel Islands: |
| Airports | 1 (2006) |
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| Airports with paved runways | total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006) |
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| Ports and terminals | small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island being expanded |
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| Military - Paracel Islands: |
| Military note | occupied by China |
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