Paracel Islands · World Factbook

Paracel Islands

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 all 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.

geography

location

Southeast Asia

16.30° N, 112. 0° E

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

area

7.75 sq km

land
7.75 sq km

water
0 sq km

land boundaries

0 km

coastline

518 km

climate

tropical

terrain

mostly low and flat

elevation

lowest point

South China Sea

highest point

unnamed location on Rocky Island

land use

arable land
permanent crops
permanent pasture
forest
other

population distribution

a population of over 1,000 Chinese resides on Woody Island, the largest of the Paracels; there are scattered Chinese garrisons on some other islands

people

population

1,440
235
global rank

government

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.