Paracel Islands Introduction - 2023

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

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, and has scattered garrisons on some of the other islands. The Paracel islands also are claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.

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Definitions and Notes

NOTE: The information regarding Paracel Islands on this page is re-published from the 2023 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Paracel Islands 2023 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Paracel Islands 2023 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.