Compare Paracel Islands (2004) - Ashmore and Cartier Islands (2001)

Compare Paracel Islands (2004) z Ashmore and Cartier Islands (2001)

	Paracel Islands (2004)	Ashmore and Cartier Islands (2001)

Airports	1 (2003 est.)	-
Airports - with paved runways	total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)	-
Area	total: NA sq km land: NA sq km water: 0 sq km	total: 5 sq km land: 5 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Ashmore Reef (West, Middle, and East Islets) and Cartier Island
Area - comparative	NA	about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
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.	These uninhabited islands came under Australian authority in 1931; formal administration began two years later. Ashmore Reef supports a rich and diverse avian and marine habitat; in 1983 it became a National Nature Reserve. Recent geological explorations have indicated promising petroleum formations.
Climate	tropical	tropical
Coastline	518 km	74.1 km
Country name	conventional long form: none conventional short form: Paracel Islands	conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Dependency status	-	territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian 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: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 3 m
Environment - current issues	NA	NA
Flag description	-	the flag of Australia is used
Geographic coordinates	16 30 N, 112 00 E	12 14 S, 123 05 E
Geography - note	composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group	Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983
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% (2001)	arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (all grass and sand)
Legal system	-	the laws of the Northern Territory 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	Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Australia
Map references	Southeast Asia	Southeast Asia
Maritime claims	NA	contiguous zone: 12 NM continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 3 NM
Military - note	occupied by China	defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force
Natural hazards	typhoons	surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards
Natural resources	none	fish
Population	no indigenous inhabitants note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons (July 2004 est.)	no indigenous inhabitants note: there are only seasonal caretakers (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	low with sand and coral
Waterways	-	none

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