[News Spot] Taiwan Strengthens Effective Control over 'Taipingdao'

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'Taipingdao (太平島)' is the largest island in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, located about 1500 km from Kaohsiung (高雄) in southern Taiwan, and is an island effectively controlled by Taiwan. China, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Philippines each claim sovereignty over it.

Typing Island
Photo by Google Earth screen capture

Taipingdao is called 'Itu Aba Island' in English (international name), 'Taiping Island (太平島)' by China and Taiwan, 'Ba Binh Island (??o Ba B?nh)' by Vietnam, and 'Ligao Island (Pulo ng Ligao)' by the Philippines. Although it is a small island with an area of 0.49 km², it is the largest natural island in the Spratly Islands.

It is far from the Taiwanese mainland and much closer to the Philippine island of Palawan. Taiwan, which stationed troops there since 1958, has shifted jurisdiction to the Coast Guard in the 2000s and has been effectively controlling the island. In December 2015, Taiwan strengthened its effective control of Taipingdao by constructing and utilizing a lighthouse, pier, and runway. The 1150-meter-long runway was also extended to about 1500 meters.

Since 2020, Taiwan has invested a total of 1.7376 billion New Taiwan dollars (approximately 73.2 billion KRW) over four years in construction projects on Taipingdao. These projects included windbreak construction for small vessels such as 100-ton patrol boats, support facilities for docking 4000-ton frigates, pier auxiliary facilities, and construction of fuel storage, water, and power facilities.

Taiwanese media including United Daily News reported on the 18th that a completion ceremony was held for dredging and pier renovation works on Taipingdao in the South Pacific. Taiwan Coast Guard Administration stated that its 1000-ton Miao-li patrol vessel departed from southern Kaohsiung Port on the 15th and arrived at Taipingdao the previous afternoon.

On December 10 last year, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel fired water cannons at a supply ship operated by the Philippine Navy in the South China Sea, a disputed territory.
[Photo by EPA/ Yonhap News]

A Taiwanese government official anticipated that after this construction, if the military additionally deploys power, water, and fuel supply facilities on-site, it will be possible not only to dock large naval vessels but also to extend their stay.

United Daily News also reported that military personnel are expected to attend the completion ceremony, but the identity of the high-ranking official presiding over the event is being kept confidential. It is known that the possibility of President Tsai Ing-wen visiting, who is about two months away from retirement, is low. The Presidential Office announced that President Tsai is scheduled to attend events on the main island of Taiwan at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. that day but did not disclose any schedule related to Taipingdao.

Given the recent extreme deterioration of the South China Sea situation due to clashes between Philippine and Chinese Coast Guard vessels earlier this month, it is analyzed that this is to avoid further provoking neighboring countries.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.