s. 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 Vietnam
and Taiwan.

Geography Paracel Islands

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

Geographic coordinates: 16 30 N, 112 00 E

Map references: Southeast Asia

Area: total: NA sq km water: 0 sq km land: NA sq km

Area - comparative: NA

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 518 km

Maritime claims: NA

Climate: tropical

Terrain: mostly low and flat

Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point:
unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m

Natural resources: none

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards: typhoons

Environment - current issues: NA

Geography - note: composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided
into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group

People Paracel Islands

Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: there are scattered Chinese
garrisons (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate: NA

Government Paracel Islands

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form:
Paracel Islands

Economy Paracel Islands

Economy - overview: China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands
for tourism.

Transportation Paracel Islands

Waterways: none

Ports and harbors: small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and
Duncan Island being expanded

Airports: 1 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2001)

Military Paracel Islands

Military - note: occupied by China

Transnational Issues Paracel Islands

Disputes - international: occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan
and Vietnam

This page was last updated on 1 January 2002

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Spratly Islands

Introduction

Spratly Islands

Background: This archipelago - surrounded by rich fishing grounds and
potentially by gas and oil deposits - is claimed in its entirety by
China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, while portions are c