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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 the Paracel Islands since 1974, when its troops seized a South Vietnamese garrison occupying the western islands. The islands are claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.
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Country
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Surface Area: Coastline: 518 km; composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group
Population: no indigenous inhabitants; there are scattered Chinese garrisons
Located in: Southeastern Asia, group of small islands and reefs in the South China Sea
Independent since: occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam
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