Paracel Islands

The Paracel Islands (Chinese: 西沙群島 in pinyin: xi1 sha1 qun2 dao3; Vietnamese: Hoàng Sa) are a group of small islands and reefs in the South China Sea (South China Sea Islands), about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to the northern Philippines.

The islands have no indigenous inhabitants, though there are Chinese garrisons scattered throughout. Although occupied by China, they are claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.

From the CIA World Factbook 2000. Not Wikified.

• History
• Geography

• Government
• Economy
• Transportation

See also: Pratas Islands[?] (東沙群島), Macclesfield Bank[?] (中沙群島), Spratly Islands