Paracel Islands (2001) | Bassas da India (2003) | |
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 |
total: 0.2 sq km
land: 0.2 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | NA | about one-third the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
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. | 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. |
Climate | tropical | tropical |
Coastline | 518 km | 35.2 km |
Country name | conventional long form:
none conventional short form: Paracel Islands |
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bassas da India |
Dependency status | - | possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion |
Disputes - international | occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam | claimed by Madagascar |
Economy - overview | China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism. | no economic activity |
Elevation extremes | lowest point:
South China Sea 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m |
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 2.4 m |
Environment - current issues | NA | NA |
Flag description | - | the flag of France is used |
Geographic coordinates | 16 30 N, 112 00 E | 21 30 S, 39 50 E |
Geography - note | - | the islands emerge from a circular reef that sits atop a long-extinct, submerged volcano |
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% |
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all rock) (1998 est.) |
Legal system | - | the laws of France, where applicable, apply |
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 | Southern Africa, islands in the southern Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from Madagascar to Mozambique |
Map references | Southeast Asia | Africa |
Maritime claims | NA | exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
Military - note | occupied by China | defense is the responsibility of France |
Natural hazards | typhoons | maritime hazard since it is usually under water during high tide and surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones |
Natural resources | none | none |
Population | no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons (July 2001 est.) |
uninhabited (July 2003 est.) |
Ports and harbors | small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island being expanded | none; offshore anchorage only |
Terrain | mostly low and flat | volcanic rock |
Waterways | none | none |