Editing Paracel Islands (section)

=== Ecology and tourism ===
Paracel Islands' geographical and ecological traits are often likened as "China's [[Maldives]]", however, controversial conflicts between environment conservation and human activities including military operations, developments, and tourism on Paracel Islands have become public concerns in recent years.<ref>China Insider, 2013, [http://www.scmp.com/news/china-insider/article/1291152/outcry-after-chinese-tourists-pictured-hunting-rare-sea-creatures#comments Outcry after Chinese tourists pictured hunting rare sea creatures in disputed Paracel Islands] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507002519/http://www.scmp.com/news/china-insider/article/1291152/outcry-after-chinese-tourists-pictured-hunting-rare-sea-creatures#comments |date=May 7, 2016 }}</ref> Local ecosystem include endangered fish such as [[whale shark]]s, oceanic birds, [[marine mammals]] (at least historically) such as [[blue whale]]s, [[fin whale]]s, and [[Chinese white dolphin]]s, and [[marine reptile]] species such as critically endangered [[green sea turtle]]s, [[hawksbill sea turtle]]s, and [[Leatherback sea turtle]]s;<ref name=Parcel08>{{cite journal |author1=黄晖| author2=董志军 |author3=练健生|title=论西沙群岛珊瑚礁生态系统自然保护区的建立|journal=热 带 地 理 – Tropical Geography |volume=28 |issue=6 |date=November 2008}}</ref> however, direct damaging of the ecosystem by military group and tourists has been documented.<ref name=WWF>[http://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/im0148 South China Sea, between the Philippines, Borneo, Vietnam, and China ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418204904/http://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/im0148 |date=April 18, 2016 }} - WWF</ref> Governmental actions to cease illegal tourism are ongoing.<ref>China Insider, 2015, [http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1699255/tourists-fishing-endangered-species-south-china-sea-prompts-crackdown China to crack down on illegal tourism in Paracel Islands] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506215355/http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1699255/tourists-fishing-endangered-species-south-china-sea-prompts-crackdown |date=May 6, 2016 }}</ref>

The islands have been open for tourists since 1997.<ref>{{Cite web|title=CIA - The World Factbook -- Paracel Islands|url=https://user.iiasa.ac.at/~marek/fbook/05/print/pf.html|website=user.iiasa.ac.at|access-date=2020-05-07}}</ref><!-- as announced by the government of China (PRC). --> Chinese tourists can take a 20-hour ferry to the Islands, paying up to US$2,000 for a 5-day cruise, and are placed on a long waitlist before being accepted.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-29437299 |title = Tourists "used" in China-Vietnam Paracel Islands dispute |last = Ethirajan |first = Anbarasan |date = 1 October 2014 |work = BBC News Newsday |access-date = 3 October 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160508032106/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-29437299 |archive-date = May 8, 2016 |url-status = live }}<br />The page contains an interesting video. On completion of the video, the page links to [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27856082 another article] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304014923/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27856082 |date=March 4, 2020 }}, dated 16 June 2014, also containing an interesting video. And so on.</ref> The BBC article states that "Chinese tourism has strong political implications, as the Chinese tourists are being used as 'foot soldiers of China' by Beijing to further China's territorial claims there".  The video also states "Vietnam is considered unlikely to send military vessels to stop them".<ref name=":0" />

There are two museums on Woody Island; a Naval Museum and a Maritime Museum. In April 2012, the Vice-Mayor and officials from the Haikou Municipal Government made several announcements about developing new docking facilities and hotels within the Crescent Group - on Duncan and Drummond Islands specifically.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-17865585 |newspaper= BBC News (China) |title= China approves dock project in disputed Paracel islands |date= 27 April 2012 |access-date= June 21, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190617234637/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-17865585 |archive-date= June 17, 2019 |url-status= live }}</ref> Promotion of the naturally unspoilt reef system was cited as the driver for new tourism potential with other such reefs, such as the [[Great Barrier Reef]] in Australia, now placed under threat of extinction due to human activities.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.visithainan.com.au/feature-report/314-paracel-islands-the-new-great-barrier-reef.html |title= Paracel Islands (Paracel Islands - the new Great Barrier Reef) |publisher= VisitHainan.com.au |access-date= 23 Nov 2014 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140917094345/http://www.visithainan.com.au/feature-report/314-paracel-islands-the-new-great-barrier-reef.html |archive-date= September 17, 2014}}</ref> However, according to ''The China Post'', this was denied by a PRC Government official in April 2012, due to sensitivities surrounding the islands.<ref>{{cite news |title= China official denies plans for Paracel Islands tourism |url= http://www.chinapost.com.tw/china/national-news/2012/04/06/336927/China-official.htm |newspaper= The China Post |date= 6 April 2012 |access-date= December 23, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141006083706/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/china/national-news/2012/04/06/336927/China-official.htm |archive-date= October 6, 2014 |url-status= live }}</ref>