Paracel Islands
Paracel Islands as the 2002 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 27 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 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
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
17 fieldsLand use(1998 est.)
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
Geography - note
composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group
People
1 fieldGovernment
1 fieldEconomy
China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism.
1 fieldTransportation
4 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved only
Military
1 fieldTransnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Paracel Islands.” The World Factbook 2002. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/paracel-islands/2002.