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Factors
From The World Factbook -- Paracel Islands
| Background: |
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.
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| 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
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| Geographic coordinates: |
16 30 N, 112 00 E
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| Map references: |
Southeast Asia
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| Area: |
total:
NA sq km
land:
NA sq km
water:
0 sq km
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| Terrain: |
mostly low and flat
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| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point:
South China Sea 0 m
highest point:
unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m
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| Land use: |
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
permanent pastures:
0%
forests and woodland:
0%
other:
100%
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| Irrigated land: |
0 sq km (1993)
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| Natural hazards: |
typhoons
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| Environment - current issues: |
NA
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| Geography - note: |
composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group
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| Population: |
no indigenous inhabitants
note:
there are scattered Chinese garrisons (July 2001 est.)
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| Country name: |
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Paracel Islands
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| Economy - overview: |
China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism.
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| Ports and harbors: |
small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island being expanded
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| Airports - with paved runways: |
total:
1
1,524 to 2,437 m:
1 (2000 est.)
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| Military - note: |
occupied by China
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| Disputes - international: |
occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam
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* based on information from the CIA World Factbook
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