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.

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

Natural hazards: typhoons

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

Population: no indigenous inhabitants
Note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons

Environment
Current issues: NA

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

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.

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

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

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