Geography

Taiwan 2002

Geography

South China Sea
The ROC maintains a historical claim to the islands of the South China Sea. All are part of the territory of the Republic of China. Four groups of coral reef archipelagoes are scattered over this immense area. They are the Tungsha (the Pratas) Islands 東沙群島, Nansha (the Spratly) Islands 南沙群島, Hsisha (the Paracel) Islands 西沙群島, and Chungsha (the Macclesfield Bank) Islands 中沙群島. Currently the ROC's effective jurisdiction includes the Tungsha and Taiping 太平 Islands.
Since 1993, the government's policy towards the region has been set by the Executive Yuan's Policy Guidelines for the South China Sea 南海政策綱領, which expresses Taiwan's desire to resolve all disputes peacefully, to step up the exploration and management of resources in the South China Sea, to promote cooperation with the other claimant states, and to protect the ecology of the region. In keeping with its peaceful intentions, the government has pursued a policy of shifting authority from the military to civilian authorities over the Tungsha and Taiping Islands. In 1999, responsibility for defending both islands was transferred from the Ministry of National Defense to the newly created Coast Guard Administration of the Executive Yuan 行政院海岸巡防署, and the administration of the Tungsha and Taiping Islands was officially transferred to the Kaohsiung City Government.
Tungsha (Pratas) Islands
Tungsha Islands comprise Tungsha Island 東沙島 and two coral reefs, the North Vereker Bank 北衛灘 and the South Vereker Bank 南衛灘. The archipelago is located in a strategically important position along the major sea route connecting the Pacific and Indian oceans, between 116 deg 0' and 116 deg 5' E longitude, and 20 deg 5' and 20deg 7' N latitude. The group is 140 nautical miles south of Shantou 汕頭 in Guangdong Province, 430 nautical miles northwest of Manila, 170 miles southeast of Hong Kong, and 240 nautical miles southwest of Kaohsiung. Tungsha Island is a coral atoll with a land area of 2.4 sq. km. Shaped like a horseshoe, it extends 0.9 km from east to west, and 2.7 km from north to south. Among these islands, only Tungsha is always above water. North and South Vereker Banks are completely submerged at high tide. On Tungsha Island, the ROC government set up a national monument and a corridor on June 30, 1989, and May 18, 1992, respectively, to assert its sovereignty over the archipelago.
Tungsha Islands enjoy a subtropical climate, which is influenced by northeast winds during the winter. They experience their warmest weather in July, with an average temperature of 29.8 deg C. Temperatures are lowest in January, when the average is 22 deg C.
The areas around Tungsha provide excellent fishing grounds, and ROC fishermen visit the region during March and April. In addition to being a source of salt, fish, and minerals, the islands are an outpost for the ROC navy in the South China Sea. A hospital, power station, satellite tracking station, and runway have been built on Tungsha Island. A fishermen's service center also provides emergency shelter for fishermen operating in the South China Sea. There are three jetties and an onshore service center, which gives directions to fishing boats.
Nansha (Spratly) Islands
Nansha Islands consist of 180 islands, reefs, cays, and banks, in an area that stretches 810 km from north to south and 900 km from east to west. Taiping Island, the major island of the group, is located in the center of the island group. Six hundred and eighty miles to its north lies Hong Kong; 700 miles to its northeast is Kaohsiung; and Singapore is located 880 miles southwest of the island. James Shoal at the south of the island complex is the southernmost Chinese territory.
Taiping Island is located at 114 deg 2' E longitude and 10 deg 3' N latitude. The island has a land area of only 489,600 sq. meters, and stretches 1,360 meters from east to west and 350 meters from north to south. Its average altitude is 3.8 meters above sea level. A cross-island highway runs about one km and a trip round the island can be completed in 30 minutes. The area has abundant fishing, mineral, and petroleum resources.
Nansha Islands have a strategic importance, and ROC coast guards are currently stationed on Taiping Island. Facilities on the island include a radar station, meteorological center, power plant, library, and activities center.

Copyright (C) July 2002, Government Information Office. All rights reserved. Site design by L.F. Lee
Best viewed with Netscape 4.x or IE 5.x (medium font) at 800 x 600 True Color (32 bit) resolution

		Geography
		South China Sea The ROC maintains a historical claim to the islands of the South China Sea. All are part of the territory of the Republic of China. Four groups of coral reef archipelagoes are scattered over this immense area. They are the Tungsha (the Pratas) Islands 東沙群島, Nansha (the Spratly) Islands 南沙群島, Hsisha (the Paracel) Islands 西沙群島, and Chungsha (the Macclesfield Bank) Islands 中沙群島. Currently the ROC's effective jurisdiction includes the Tungsha and Taiping 太平 Islands. Since 1993, the government's policy towards the region has been set by the Executive Yuan's Policy Guidelines for the South China Sea 南海政策綱領, which expresses Taiwan's desire to resolve all disputes peacefully, to step up the exploration and management of resources in the South China Sea, to promote cooperation with the other claimant states, and to protect the ecology of the region. In keeping with its peaceful intentions, the government has pursued a policy of shifting authority from the military to civilian authorities over the Tungsha and Taiping Islands. In 1999, responsibility for defending both islands was transferred from the Ministry of National Defense to the newly created Coast Guard Administration of the Executive Yuan 行政院海岸巡防署, and the administration of the Tungsha and Taiping Islands was officially transferred to the Kaohsiung City Government. Tungsha (Pratas) Islands Tungsha Islands comprise Tungsha Island 東沙島 and two coral reefs, the North Vereker Bank 北衛灘 and the South Vereker Bank 南衛灘. The archipelago is located in a strategically important position along the major sea route connecting the Pacific and Indian oceans, between 116 deg 0' and 116 deg 5' E longitude, and 20 deg 5' and 20deg 7' N latitude. The group is 140 nautical miles south of Shantou 汕頭 in Guangdong Province, 430 nautical miles northwest of Manila, 170 miles southeast of Hong Kong, and 240 nautical miles southwest of Kaohsiung. Tungsha Island is a coral atoll with a land area of 2.4 sq. km. Shaped like a horseshoe, it extends 0.9 km from east to west, and 2.7 km from north to south. Among these islands, only Tungsha is always above water. North and South Vereker Banks are completely submerged at high tide. On Tungsha Island, the ROC government set up a national monument and a corridor on June 30, 1989, and May 18, 1992, respectively, to assert its sovereignty over the archipelago. Tungsha Islands enjoy a subtropical climate, which is influenced by northeast winds during the winter. They experience their warmest weather in July, with an average temperature of 29.8 deg C. Temperatures are lowest in January, when the average is 22 deg C. The areas around Tungsha provide excellent fishing grounds, and ROC fishermen visit the region during March and April. In addition to being a source of salt, fish, and minerals, the islands are an outpost for the ROC navy in the South China Sea. A hospital, power station, satellite tracking station, and runway have been built on Tungsha Island. A fishermen's service center also provides emergency shelter for fishermen operating in the South China Sea. There are three jetties and an onshore service center, which gives directions to fishing boats. Nansha (Spratly) Islands Nansha Islands consist of 180 islands, reefs, cays, and banks, in an area that stretches 810 km from north to south and 900 km from east to west. Taiping Island, the major island of the group, is located in the center of the island group. Six hundred and eighty miles to its north lies Hong Kong; 700 miles to its northeast is Kaohsiung; and Singapore is located 880 miles southwest of the island. James Shoal at the south of the island complex is the southernmost Chinese territory. Taiping Island is located at 114 deg 2' E longitude and 10 deg 3' N latitude. The island has a land area of only 489,600 sq. meters, and stretches 1,360 meters from east to west and 350 meters from north to south. Its average altitude is 3.8 meters above sea level. A cross-island highway runs about one km and a trip round the island can be completed in 30 minutes. The area has abundant fishing, mineral, and petroleum resources. Nansha Islands have a strategic importance, and ROC coast guards are currently stationed on Taiping Island. Facilities on the island include a radar station, meteorological center, power plant, library, and activities center. Copyright (C) July 2002, Government Information Office. All rights reserved. Site design by L.F. Lee Best viewed with Netscape 4.x or IE 5.x (medium font) at 800 x 600 True Color (32 bit) resolution