NAVIGATION
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NAVIGATION
Paracel Islands
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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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
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Location:
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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:
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16 30 N, 112 00 E |
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Map references:
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Southeast Asia |
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Area:
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total: NA sq km
water: 0 sq km land: NA sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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NA |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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518 km |
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Maritime claims:
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NA |
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Climate:
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tropical |
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Terrain:
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mostly low and flat |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m |
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Natural resources:
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none |
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Land use:
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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0 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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typhoons |
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Environment - current issues:
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NA |
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Geography - note:
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composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons (July 2002 est.) |