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Compare Spratly Islands (2008) - Paracel Islands (2008)

Compare Spratly Islands (2008) z Paracel Islands (2008)

 Spratly Islands (2008)Paracel Islands (2008)
 Spratly IslandsParacel Islands
Airports 3 (2007) 1 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2007)
total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
-
Area total: less than 5 sq km


land: less than 5 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered over an area of nearly 410,000 sq km of the central South China Sea
total: NA sq km


land: NA sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative NA NA
Background The Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs. They are surrounded by rich fishing grounds and potentially by gas and oil deposits. They are claimed in their entirety by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, while portions are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines. About 45 islands are occupied by relatively small numbers of military forces from China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Brunei has established a fishing zone that overlaps a southern reef but has not made any formal claim. 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. China built a military installation on Mischief Reef in 1999. The islands are claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.
Climate tropical tropical
Coastline 926 km 518 km
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Spratly Islands
conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Paracel Islands
Disputes - international all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive fishing zone that encompasses Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands but has not publicly claimed the reef; claimants in November 2002 signed the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," which has eased tensions but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct"; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands occupied by China, also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam
Economy - overview Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing. The proximity to nearby oil- and gas-producing sedimentary basins suggests the potential for oil and gas deposits, but the region is largely unexplored. There are no reliable estimates of potential reserves. Commercial exploitation has yet to be developed. China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism.
Elevation extremes lowest point: South China Sea 0 m


highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m


highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m
Environment - current issues NA NA
Geographic coordinates 8 38 N, 111 55 E 16 30 N, 112 00 E
Geography - note strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group
Heliports 3 (2007) -
Irrigated land 0 sq km 0 sq km
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (2005)
arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (2005)
Location Southeastern Asia, group of reefs and islands in the South China Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam to the southern Philippines 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 Southeast Asia Southeast Asia
Maritime claims NA NA
Military - note Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs of which about 45 are claimed and occupied by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam occupied by China
Natural hazards typhoons; numerous reefs and shoals pose a serious maritime hazard typhoons
Natural resources fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential none
Population no indigenous inhabitants


note: there are scattered garrisons occupied by personnel of several claimant states
no indigenous inhabitants


note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons
Terrain flat mostly low and flat
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