Itu Aba Island
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Itu Aba Island or Taiping Island (Traditional Chinese: 太平島), is the largest of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. It is controlled and governed by the Republic of China (Taiwan). The Spratly Island consists of seven reefs. The governments of the People's Republic of China, the Philippines and Vietnam also claim the island. The Vietnamese name for the island is đảo Ba Bình (Ba Bình Island), while in Filipino it is called Ligaw ('Lost'/'Wild') Island.
The islands are on the Spratly Archipelago near the Cheng Ho Reefs (Tizard Bank) near the centre of the South China Sea.
Contents |
[edit] History
The island derives its Chinese name from the battle ship Taiping ('Peace') sent to recover the island after Japan's surrender at the end of World War II. An interesting fact about Itu Aba Island is that fishermen used to call the island "Huang-Shan Ma Zhi." The Hainan Island pronunciation for this name is "Widuabe." On other western navigation maps, the island is named "Itu Aba Island" [1].
During World War II it was invaded by Japan and converted to a submarine base. Japan renounced its control in 1946 and turned over the island to the Republic of China.
As of 2005, plans are underway by the Republic of China government to build an airstrip on the island. Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent a representative to Taipei and requested the ROC to stop the construction.
The island, along with the rest of the Spratlys, is disputed by four countries on historical, geographic or technical grounds, as well as due to fishing rights, shipping lanes, and the potential of petroleum and natural gas beneath the South China Sea.
Presently a detachment of Republic of China Coast Guard is stationed at this island, replacing a Republic of China Marine Corps detachment in 2000.
[edit] Government
Although the are no long term inhabitants on the island, Itu Aba is administered under the Central municipality of Kaohsiung City by the Republic of China.
[edit] Geography
This Spratly Island is made up of:
- Swallow Atoll - a 0.1 square km islet
Flora and fauna include:
- Swallows
- Papaya plant
- Coast oak
- Terminalia trees
- Lotus leaf tung tree
- Goodeniaceae
- Sea lemon
- Long stem chrysanthemum
- Long-saddle rattan
- Gray grass
- Coconut tree
- Banana tree
- White-tailed Tropical Bird
- Sparrow hawk
- Tropical fish
- Jelly fish
[edit] See also
- South China Sea
- South China Sea Islands
- Dongsha Islands or Pratas Islands
- List of islands of the Republic of China
