Compare Paracel Islands (2003) - Coral Sea Islands (2001)

Compare Paracel Islands (2003) z Coral Sea Islands (2001)

	Paracel Islands (2003)	Coral Sea Islands (2001)

Airports	1 (2002)	-
Airports - with paved runways	total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)	-
Area	total: NA sq km land: NA sq km water: 0 sq km	total: less than 3 sq km land: less than 3 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a sea area of about 1 million sq km, with the Willis Islets the most important
Area - comparative	NA	NA
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.	Scattered over some 1 million square kilometers of ocean, the Coral Sea Islands were declared a territory of Australia in 1969. They are uninhabited except for a small meteorological staff on Willis Island. Automated weather stations, beacons, and a lighthouse occupy many other islands and reefs.
Climate	tropical	tropical
Coastline	518 km	3,095 km
Country name	conventional long form: none conventional short form: Paracel Islands	conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands
Dependency status	-	territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories
Diplomatic representation from the US	-	none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation in the US	-	none (territory of Australia)
Disputes - international	occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam	none
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: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Cato Island 6 m
Environment - current issues	NA	no permanent fresh water resources
Executive branch	-	administered from Canberra by the Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories
Flag description	-	the flag of Australia is used
Geographic coordinates	16 30 N, 112 00 E	18 00 S, 152 00 E
Geography - note	composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group	important nesting area for birds and turtles
Irrigated land	0 sq km (1998 est.)	0 sq km (1993)
Land boundaries	0 km	0 km
Land use	arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.)	arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover)
Legal system	-	the laws of Australia, 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	Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia
Map references	Southeast Asia	Oceania
Maritime claims	NA	exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 3 NM
Military - note	occupied by China	defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited regularly by the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities of visitors
Natural hazards	typhoons	occasional tropical cyclones
Natural resources	none	NEGL
Population	no indigenous inhabitants note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons (July 2003 est.)	no indigenous inhabitants note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station (July 2001 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	sand and coral reefs and islands (or cays)
Waterways	none	none

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