Paracel Islands
none conventional short form: Paracel Islands
Paracel Islands as the 2001 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 26 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
This archipelago is surrounded by productive fishing grounds and potentially large oil reserves. In 1932, French Indochina annexed the islands and set up a weather station on Prattle Island; maintenance was continued by its successor Vietnam. China has occupied the Paracel Islands since 1974, when its troops captured a South Vietnamese garrison occupying the western islands. However, the islands are still claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan.
Geography
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
16 fieldsLocation
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
Elevation extremes
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100%
People
1 fieldGovernment
1 fieldEconomy
China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism.
1 fieldTransportation
4 fieldsMilitary
1 fieldTransnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Paracel Islands.” The World Factbook 2001. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/paracel-islands/2001.