From CIA World Factbook 2002 :
Paracel Islands Introduction Paracel Islands ---------------------------- Background: This archipelago is 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. 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