The Paracel Islands, also known as the Xisha Islands in Chinese and the Hoàng Sa Archipelago in Vietnamese, are a disputed archipelago in the South China Sea. Comprising around 130 tiny coral islands and reefs, the archipelago is divided into the Crescent Group and the Amphitrite Group, covering approximately 7.75 square kilometers of land and about 15,000 square kilometers of maritime area. These islands, located roughly 400 kilometers from Vietnam and 330 kilometers from Hainan, are currently under the control of the People's Republic of China, despite overlapping claims from Taiwan and Vietnam. Historically, the French Indochina colonial government established weather and telecommunication stations on Woody Island and Pattle Island in the 1930s, which were maintained until 1945. The islands were occupied by Japan during the Second Sino-Japanese War and incorporated into Japanese Taiwan in 1941. Post-war, the Republic of China reasserted its presence in 1946, and the PRC has maintained de facto control since the 1974 Battle of the Paracel Islands. In 2012, China established Sansha City in Hainan Province to administer the area and had built 20 outposts on reclaimed land by 2017. The Paracel Islands are rich in marine biodiversity, making them highly productive fishing grounds, and their seabed is believed to contain substantial, yet largely unexplored, reserves of oil and natural gas. Geographically, the archipelago features a tropical climate, with the Amphitrite Group located in the northeastern part and the Crescent Group in the southwest. Ownership claims are deeply rooted in historical assertions, with China arguing continuous occupation and effective administration since the Han Dynasty, while Vietnam's claim is based on historical and legal grounds dating back to the early 19th century. The sovereignty dispute over the Paracel Islands remains a contentious issue among China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, reflecting broader geopolitical struggles in the South China Sea, where valuable resources and strategic maritime routes are at stake. Like, comment, and subscribe for more in-depth coverage of global economies and geopolitics. Watch complete video and do not forget to visit our channel for more interesting videos.
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0:00 Who owns Paracel Islands?
1:35 Resource Potential
2:28 Geography
3:14 Amphitrites Group
4:02 Crescent group
5:37 Ownership Claims
6:41 Ownership via Discovery
7:22 China’s Take
10:03 Vietnam
10:28 The Republic of Vietnam's Take
14:46 End Note
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Disclaimer:
The content in this video reflects the author(s)' thoughts and does not represent the official viewpoint of The Pacific Report; viewers are recommended to conduct their own research and seek expert advice before relying on the information provided.