evidence: Paracels. Located about 160 miles southeast of Hong Kong., 280 miles north- west of Luzon, and 280 miles east-northeast''of Hainan, the reef consists of a circular coral barrier, roughly 13 miles in diameter, enclosing a coral- studded lagoon with Pratas Island on the western side. Many points -vdthin the lagoon and on t he'northern, eastern, and southern sides of the reef are uncovered at low tide. Pratas, largest of the South China Sea islands con- sidered in this paper, had no permanent inhabitants before 'World I'Tar II but was frequented by Chinese., Japanese, and Formosan fishermen, who gathered seaweed, shells, and corals. It has guano deposits of some value and also can be'used for meteorological observations. [...] After World I-Tar II the Chinese Nationalists established a meteorolog- ical station on Pratas Island, and have since maintained it under the auspices of the Nationalist navy, Although the Chinese Communists claim the Pratas [...] Pratas Island (200421 N., 116?431 E.) is a low, horseshoe-shaped island about one and one-half miles long and one and one-half miles wide. Vegetation includes a few coconut trees and some bushes. The island has a radio, station, a 120-foot light tower, and a radar reflector.