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The British Indian Ocean Territory is an overseas territory of the British in the Indian Ocean, including the Chagos Archipelago and a total of 2,300 large and small tropical islands. The total land area is about 60 square kilometers.
The entire territory is located in the south of the Maldives, between the east coast of Africa and Indonesia, about 6 degrees south latitude and 71 degrees 30 minutes east longitude on the sea. Diego Garcia, the southernmost island of the archipelago, is also the largest island in the territory. It occupies a strategic position in the center of the entire Indian Ocean. Britain and the United States cooperated on this island to illegally expel all the original inhabitants and jointly established a military base. It is mainly operated by the US military as a relay supply station for the naval fleet. In addition to the military port, a military airport with complete specifications has also been established on the island, and super-large strategic bombers such as the B-52 can also take off and land smoothly. During the U.S. war in Iraq and Afghanistan, Diego Garcia Island became a frontline base for strategic bombers for long-distance air support.
The economic activities of the British Indian Ocean Territory are concentrated on Diego Garcia Island, which has British and American military defense facilities. Approximately 2,000 local aborigines were ordered to evacuate to Mauritius before the establishment of military defense facilities in the United Kingdom and the United States. In 1995, about 1,700 British and American military personnel and 1,500 civilian contractors lived on the island. Various construction plans and services are supported by local military personnel and contract employees from the United Kingdom, Mauritius, the Philippines and the United States. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on this island. Commercial and fishing activities add approximately US$1 million in annual income to the territory. Due to public and military needs, the island has independent telephone facilities and all standard commercial telephone services. The island also provides internet connection services. The international telephone service must be transmitted via satellite. The territory also has three radio stations, one AM and two FM channels, and a TV radio station. The top-level international domain name of this territory is .io. In addition, the territory has been issuing stamps since January 17, 1968. |
TYPE G BRITISH 3-PIN