Airports | 1 (2000 est.) |
Airports - with paved runways | total:
1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 est.) |
Area | total:
NA sq km land: NA sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | NA |
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. |
Climate | tropical |
Coastline | 518 km |
Country name | conventional long form:
none conventional short form: Paracel Islands |
Disputes - international | occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam |
Economy - overview | China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism. |
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 |
Military - note | occupied by China |
Natural hazards | typhoons |
Natural resources | none |
Population | no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons (July 2001 est.) |
Ports and harbors | small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island being expanded |
Terrain | mostly low and flat |
Waterways | none |