Introduction

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. China built a military installation on Woody Island with an airfield and artificial harbor. The islands also are claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.
`

Geography

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`
Geographic coordinates: |  |
`16 30 N, 112 00 E`
Map references: |  |
`Southeast Asia`
Area: |  |
`total: ca. 7.75 sq km land: ca. 7.75 sq km water: 0 sq km`
Area - comparative: |  |
`NA`
Land boundaries: |  |
`0 km`
Coastline: |  |
`518 km`
Maritime claims: |  |
`NA`
Climate: |  |
`tropical`
Terrain: |  |
`mostly low and flat`
Elevation extremes: |  |
`lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m`
Natural resources: |  |
`none`
Land use: |  |
`arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)`
Irrigated land: |  |
`0 sq km`
Natural hazards: |  |
`typhoons`
Environment - current issues: |  |
`NA`
Geography - note: |  |
`composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group`

People

Population: |  |
`no indigenous inhabitants note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons`
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): |  |
`NA`

Government

Country name: |  |
`conventional long form: none conventional short form: Paracel Islands`

Economy

Economy - overview: |  |
`The islands have the potential for oil and gas development. Waters around the islands support commercial fishing, but the islands themselves are not populated on a permanent basis.`

Transportation

Airports: |  |
`1 (2010) country comparison to the world: 229`
Airports - with paved runways: |  |
`total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)`
Ports and terminals: |  |
`small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island`

Military

Military - note: |  |
`occupied by China`

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: |  |
`occupied by China, also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam`

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON APRIL 29, 2011