includes the Ground Forces, Navy (includes Marines and Naval Aviation), Air Force, Second Artillery Corps (the strategic missile force), People's Armed Police (internal security troops, nominally subordinate to Ministry of Public Security, but included by the Chinese as part of the "armed forces" and considered to be an adjunct to the PLA in wartime)
Manpower availability:
males age 15–49: 352,506,948
males fit for military service: 194,589,216
males reach military age (18) annually: 9,763,916 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: the officially announced but suspect figure
is 70.2 billion yuan, NA% of GDP (1995 est.); note - conversion of
the defense budget into US dollars using the current exchange rate
could produce misleading results
======================================================================
@Christmas Island————————
(territory of Australia)
Map—
Location: 10 30 S, 105 40 E—Southeastern Asia, island in the
Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia
Flag——
Description: the flag of Australia is used
Geography————
Location: Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of
Indonesia
Geographic coordinates: 10 30 S, 105 40 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total area: 135 sq km
land area: 135 sq km
comparative area: about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 138.9 km
Maritime claims: contiguous zone: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
International disputes: none
Climate: tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
Terrain: steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Murray Hill 361 m
Natural resources: phosphate
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 0%
forest and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can
be a maritime hazard
international agreements: NA
Geographic note: located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean
People———
Population: 813 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0–14 years: NA 15–64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: −8.98% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Sex ratio:
at birth: NA male(s)/female
under 15 years: NA male(s)/female
15–64 years: NA male(s)/female
65 years and over: NA male(s)/female
all ages: NA male(s)/female
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Nationality: noun: Christmas Islander(s) adjective: Christmas Island
Ethnic divisions: Chinese 61%, Malay 25%, European 11%, other 3%,
no indigenous population
Religions: Buddhist 55%, Christian 15%, Muslim 10%, other 20%
(1991)
Languages: English
Government—————
Name of country:
conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island
conventional short form: Christmas Island
Data code: KT
Type of government: territory of Australia
Capital: The Settlement
Administrative divisions: none (territory of Australia)
Independence: none (territory of Australia)
National holiday: NA
Constitution: Christmas Island Act of 1958
Legal system: under the authority of the governor general of
Australia
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6
February 1952) is a hereditary monarch
head of government: Administrator Danny Ambrose GILLESPIE (since NA)
was appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents
the queen and Australia
cabinet: Christmas Island Shire Council
Legislative branch: none
Judicial branch:
