Paracel Islands (2007) | Paracel Islands (2001) | |
Airports | 1 (2007) | 1 (2000 est.) |
Airports - with paved runways | total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007) |
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:
NA sq km land: NA sq km water: 0 sq km |
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. | 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. |
Country name | conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Paracel Islands |
conventional long form:
none conventional short form: Paracel Islands |
Disputes - international | occupied by China, also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam | occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam |
Elevation extremes | lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m |
lowest point:
South China Sea 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m |
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 | 0 sq km (1993) |
Land use | arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005) |
arable land:
0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% |
Population | no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons |
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 |
Waterways | - | none |