Map of Paracel Islands | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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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. China built a military installation on Woody Island with an airfield and artificial harbor. The islands also are claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.


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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

Geographic coordinates: 16 30 N 112 00 E

Map reference: Southeast Asia

Area
Total: NA km²
Land: NA km²
Water: 0 km²
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
Extremes highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m

Natural resources: none

Land use
Arable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Other: 100% (2005)

Irrigated land: 0 km²

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: typhoons

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

Nationality

Ethnic groups

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Religions

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate

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Environment
Current issues: NA

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Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

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School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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

Government type

Capital

Administrative divisions

Dependent areas

Independence

National holiday

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International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage

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Economy overview: The islands have the potential for oil and gas development. Waters around the islands support commercial fishing but the islands themselves are not populated on a permanent basis.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate

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Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

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Electricity

Coal

Petroleum

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Refined petroleum

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Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 1 (2010)
Rank: 227
With paved runways total: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1 (2010)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals: small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island


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Disputes international: occupied by China also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs