(1998
est.)

Airports: 39 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 36
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Heliports: 2 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force,
Coastal Patrol and Defense Command, Armed Forces Reserve Command,
Combined Service Forces

Military manpower--military age: 19 years of age

Military manpower--availability:
males age 15-49: 6,544,602 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 5,019,737 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--reaching military age annually:
males: 204,711 (1999 est.)

Military expenditures--dollar figure: $7.446 billion (FY98/99)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP: 2.8% (FY98/99)

Transnational Issues

Disputes--international: involved in complex dispute over the
Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, and
possibly Brunei; Paracel Islands occupied by China, but claimed by
Vietnam and Taiwan; claims Japanese-administered Senkaku-shoto
(Senkaku Islands/Diaoyu Tai), as does China

Illicit drugs: considered an important heroin transit point;
major problem with domestic consumption of methamphetamines and
heroin

======================================================================

@Tajikistan
----------

Introduction

Background: Tajikistan has experienced three changes of
government and a civil war since it gained independence in September
1991 when the USSR collapsed. A peace agreement was signed in June
1997, but implementation is progressing slowly. Russian-led
peacekeeping troops are deployed throughout the country, and
Russian-commanded border guards are stationed along the
Tajikistani-Afghan border.

Geography

Location: Central Asia, west of China

Geographic coordinates: 39 00 N, 71 00 E

Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States

Area:
total: 143,100 sq km
land: 142,700 sq km
water: 400 sq km

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Wisconsin

Land boundaries:
total: 3,651 km
border countries: Afghanistan 1,206 km, China 414 km, Kyrgyzstan 870
km, Uzbekistan 1,161 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: midl