1998 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1998 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: NA sq km land: NA sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative
NA
Climate
tropical
Coastline
518 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m
Environment-current issues
NA
Environment-international agreements
party to: none of the selected agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geographic coordinates
16 30 N, 112 00 E
Irrigated land
0 sq km (1993)
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100%
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
Map references
Southeast Asia
Maritime claims
NA
Natural hazards
typhoons
Natural resources
none
Terrain
NA
People and Society
Population
no indigenous inhabitants note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons
Government
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Paracel Islands
Data code
PF
Economy
Economy-overview
no economic activity
Transportation
Airports
1 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Military and Security
Military-note
occupied by China
Transnational Issues
Disputes-international
occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam