CHINESE ACTIVITY IN THE PARACEL ISLANDS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T05162A000400010025-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 14, 2011
• Sequence Number: 25
• Publication Date: June 1, 1974
• Content Type: REPORT

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PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION
REPORT
NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION CENTER
CHINESE ACTIVITY IN THE
PARACEL ISLANDS
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JUNE 1974
COPY NO. 12.2
8 PAGES
P I R -040/74
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CHINESE ACTIVITY IN THE PARACEL ISLANDS
1. This report describes the increase in electronic, ground, and naval activity in the
Paracel Islands in the South China Se
The report includes a map and four annotated photographs.
2. The Paracel Islands (Figure 1) comprise the Amphitrite Island and Crescent island
groups. Woody, Rocky, West Sand, Tree, Lincoln, and three unnamed islands form the
Amphitrite Island group. Pattle, Robert, Money, Drummond, and Duncan Islands make up
the Crescent island group. New ground forces activity was observed on Lincoln, Pattle, Robert,
Money, Drummond, and Duncan Islands during the period covered by this report. In addition,
there was increased deployment of naval forces throughout the Paracel Island area.
3. Woody island h was observed on photography
(Figure 2). It is approximately 160 nautical miles (nm) southeast of Hainan Island and 150
nm east of South Vietnam at 16-50-OON 112-20-OOE. The People's Republic of China has
been engaged in an accelerated construction program on the island since early 1971. Facilities
on the island include a small harbor area one ROCK CAKE/STONE
CAKE radar, and approximately 130 buildings including: quarters, storage buildings, support
buildings, administration buildings, a large auditorium, vehicle sheds, and messhalls. In addition,
several basketball courts, a construction support area, a drilling area with one drilling rig,
and approximately 56 vertical and three horizontal storage tanks are present. Among the naval
combatants identified within the harbor at Woody Island (Figure 3) were: one HAINAN
large submarine chaser (PC), five probable HU-CHWAN hydrofoil motor torpedo boats (PTH),
one possible HU-CHWAN PTH, four SHANGHAI II motor gunboats (PGM), one light cargo
ship (AKL), and five small craft. Four other possible HU-CHWAN PTH were observed in
the vicinity of Woody Island. In addition, two probable R-class submarines (R-SS) were
identified in the vicinity of Woody Island
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4. Rocky Island,) - _ o _ _I is at 16-51-OON 112-20-30E,
approximately 2,600 feet northeast of Woody Island. Facilities on Rocky island consist of
one probable CROSS SLOT radar, eight vertical storage tanks, and four storage/support
buildings. Two pipelines connect Rocky island to Woody Island.
It is approximately 175 nm southeast of Hainan
at 16-40-30N 112-43-30E, was observed on
island and 25 nm southeast of Woody Island. Facilities on the island consist of one tower,
three vertical storage tanks, at least ten storage/support buildings, six tents, and a probable
lighthouse.
6. Tree Island is at 16-57-OON 112-19-OOE, approximately 10 nm north-northwest of
Woody island. one probable drilling rig was observed on the
7. The islands of the Crescent Group
Pattle Island, at 16-31-58N 111-36-23E, is approximately 160 nm south-southeast of Hainan
Island and 46 nm southwest of Woody Island. Facilities on the island (Figure 5) consist of
at least 200 tents, eight buildings, one probable SLOT REST radar, one probable
communications antenna, eight trucks, and one van. Newly identified construction consists
of a possible underground bunker, excavations for buildings and possible fortifications, a POL
storage tank, a berthing area, an access channel with turn-around area, and a small pier. Naval
identifications in the vicinity of Pattle island included one KIANGNAN destroyer escort (DE),
one auxiliary minesweeper (MSA), eight mechanized landing craft (LCM), one possible
LEN-HAI surveying ship (AGS), three AKL, and numerous small craft.
8. Robert Island is approximately 2 nm southwest of Pattle at 16-30-OON 111-35-20E.
Facilities observed on the island include 32 tents and one possible tower.
9. At Money Island, 8 nm southwest of Pattle at 16-26-40N 111-30-50E, observations
included a dredged channel, at least 77 tents, six buildings, four large buildings under
construction, and a possible tower. In addition, the following vessels were identified within
the vicinity of Money Island: two LCM, six small craft, three small lighters, and one cargo
ship that was being off-loaded.
10. Drummond island is 9 nm southeast of Pattle at 16-27-30N 111-44-45E. Facilities
observed on the island consist of at least 13 tents and some unidentified ground clearing
activity. Near the island were one KIANGNAN DE and seven SHANGHAI II PGM.
11. Observations on Duncan island, which is approximately 8 nm south-southeast of
Pattle at 16-27-OON 111-43-OOE, included 26 tents and two small buildings.
(Continued p. 8)
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 Pattle'o 4, N?Sr'
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Paracel Islands
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AMPHITRITE
GROUP
o Rocky
Woody C
(SEE FIGURES 2 & 3)
(SEE FIGURE 4)
pLincoln
Money4
UYI
NPIC P?8174
Passu Kea",,-,',-
T
1i2?00 ' 1 1 2?30'
1 10 20 3'0 Nautical Miles
I t' i r i
0 10 20 30 Statute. Miles
1 12?30'
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12. Small weapons positions and/or personnel trenches were present on all islands
observed.
Project 120704NG
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