| Bassas da India (2001) | Paracel Islands (2004) | |
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| Airports | - | 1 (2003 est.) | 
| Airports - with paved runways | - | total: 1 
 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)  | 
				
| Area | total: 
 0.2 sq km land: 0.2 sq km water: 0 sq km  | 
				total: NA sq km 
 land: NA sq km water: 0 sq km  | 
				
| Area - comparative | about one-third the size of The Mall in Washington, DC | NA | 
| Background | This atoll is a volcanic rock surrounded by reefs and is awash at high tide. A French possession since 1897, it was placed under the administration of a commissioner residing in Reunion in 1968. | 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. | 
| Climate | tropical | tropical | 
| Coastline | 35.2 km | 518 km | 
| Country name | conventional long form: 
 none conventional short form: Bassas da India  | 
				conventional long form: none 
 conventional short form: Paracel Islands  | 
				
| Dependency status | possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion | - | 
| Disputes - international | claimed by Madagascar | occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam | 
| Economy - overview | no economic activity | China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism. | 
| Elevation extremes | lowest point: 
 Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 2.4 m  | 
				lowest point: South China Sea 0 m 
 highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m  | 
				
| Environment - current issues | NA | NA | 
| Flag description | the flag of France is used | - | 
| Geographic coordinates | 21 30 S, 39 50 E | 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 | 
| Irrigated land | 0 sq km (1993) | 0 sq km (1998 est.) | 
| Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km | 
| Land use | arable land: 
 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (all rock)  | 
				arable land: 0% 
 permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)  | 
				
| Legal system | the laws of France, where applicable, apply | - | 
| Location | Southern Africa, islands in the southern Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from Madagascar to Mozambique | 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 | Africa | Southeast Asia | 
| Maritime claims | exclusive economic zone: 
 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM  | 
				NA | 
| Military - note | defense is the responsibility of France | occupied by China | 
| Natural hazards | maritime hazard since it is usually under water during high tide and surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones | typhoons | 
| Natural resources | none | none | 
| Population | uninhabited (July 2001 est.) | no indigenous inhabitants 
 note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons (July 2004 est.)  | 
				
| Ports and harbors | none; offshore anchorage only | small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island being expanded | 
| Terrain | volcanic rock | mostly low and flat | 
| Waterways | none | - |