Paracel Islands
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China has occupied the Paracel Islands since 1974, when its troops seized a South Vietnamese garrison occupying the western islands. China built a military installation on Mischief Reef in 1999. The islands are claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam. Composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group Source: The World Factbook, CIA. |
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Places
Fiji |
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.