2017 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2017 Archive (HTML)
Introduction
Background
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
Area
- ca. 7.75 sq km ca. 7.75 sq km 0 sq km
- land
- ca. 7.75 sq km
- total
- ca. 7.75 sq km
- water
- 0 sq km
Area - comparative
land area is about 13 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC
Climate
tropical
Coastline
518 km
Elevation
- NA lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m
- elevation extremes
- lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
- highest point
- unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m
- mean elevation
- NA
Environment - current issues
China's use of dredged sand and coral to build artificial islands harms reef systems; ongoing human activities, including military operations, infrastructure construction, and tourism endangers local ecosystem including birds, fish, marine mammals, and marine reptiles
Geographic coordinates
16 30 N, 112 00 E
Geography - note
composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group
Irrigated land
0 sq km (2012)
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
- 0% arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0% 0% 100% (2011 est.)
- agricultural land
- 0%
- forest
- 0%
- other
- 100% (2011 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
Map references
Southeast Asia
Maritime claims
NA
Natural hazards
typhoons
Natural resources
none
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
Terrain
mostly low and flat
People and Society
Population
- no indigenous inhabitants Chinese activity has increased in recent years, particularly on Woody Island, where the population exceeds 1,000; there are scattered Chinese garrisons on some other islands
- note
- Chinese activity has increased in recent years, particularly on Woody Island, where the population exceeds 1,000; there are scattered Chinese garrisons on some other islands
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
Government
Country name
- none Paracel Islands Portuguese navigators began to refer to the "Ilhas do Pracel" in the 16th century as a designation of low lying islets, sandbanks, and reefs scattered over a wide area; over time the name changed to "parcel" and then "paracel"
- conventional long form
- none
- conventional short form
- Paracel Islands
- etymology
- Portuguese navigators began to refer to the "Ilhas do Pracel" in the 16th century as a designation of low lying islets, sandbanks, and reefs scattered over a wide area; over time the name changed to "parcel" and then "paracel"
Economy
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.
Transportation
Airports
1 (2013)
Airports - with paved runways
- 1 (2017)
- 1,524 to 2,437 m
- 1 (2017)
- total
- 1
Ports and terminals
small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island
Military and Security
Military - note
occupied by China
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
occupied by China, also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam