Occupied by Chinese forces, but also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam, the Paracel Islands are a small collection of coral atolls, situated some 400 km (248 miles) east of Vietnam, in the South China Sea. Subject to frequent typhoons and with a tropical climate, the Paracels are at the center of a regional dispute over the vast reserves of oil and natural gas, which are believed to lie beneath their territorial waters. China has built port facilities and an airport on Woody Island to support its claim. |