Taiping (Traditional Chinese: 太平島), also known as Itu Aba, is the largest of the Nansha Islands (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. Traditional Chinese characters are one of two standard character sets. ... The South China Sea, showing surrounding countries and neighbouring seas and oceans The South China Sea is a marginal sea, part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from Singapore to the Strait of Taiwan of around 3,500,000 km². It is the largest sea body after the five... Motto: None Anthem: National Anthem of the Republic of China Capital Taipei City (de facto) Nanjing (de jure)1 Largest city Taipei City Official language(s) Mandarin (GuóyÇ”) Government Semi-presidential system  - President Chen Shui-bian  - Vice President Annette Lu  - Premier Su Tseng-chang Establishment Xinhai Revolution   - Declared October... A reef surrounding an islet. ...

The islands are on the Spratly Archipelago near the Cheng Ho Reefs (Tizard Bank) in the southern end of the South China Sea. The South China Sea, showing surrounding countries and neighbouring seas and oceans The South China Sea is a marginal sea, part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from Singapore to the Strait of Taiwan of around 3,500,000 km². It is the largest sea body after the five...

History

The island derives its name from the battle ship "Peace (Taiping)" sent to recover the island after Japan's surrender at the end of World War II. An interesting fact about Taiping 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]. Taiping (also Itu Aba, Chinese: 太平島) is the largest island of Nansha Islands (Spratly Islands) in the South China Sea. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, the use of images on this page may require cleanup, involving adjustment of image placement, formatting, size, or other adjustments. ... Not to be confused with the unrelated provinces of Henan and Hunan Hainan (海南; pinyin: Hǎinán) is a province of the Peoples Republic of China, located at the southern end of the country. ...

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. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, the use of images on this page may require cleanup, involving adjustment of image placement, formatting, size, or other adjustments. ... German UC-1 class World War I submarine A model of Gunter Priens Unterseeboot 47 (U-47), German WWII Type VII diesel-electric hunter-killer (SSK) submarine Inside of the Argonaute, showing the typical obstructed, tiny space of a post-WWII diesel attack submarine. ... 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ...

As of 2005, plans are underway by the Republic of China government to build an airstrip on the island. The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affair has sent a representative to Taipei and requested the ROC to stop the construction. [2] 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Motto: None Anthem: National Anthem of the Republic of China Capital Taipei City (de facto) Nanjing (de jure)1 Largest city Taipei City Official language(s) Mandarin (GuóyÇ”) Government Semi-presidential system  - President Chen Shui-bian  - Vice President Annette Lu  - Premier Su Tseng-chang Establishment Xinhai Revolution   - Declared October... An airstrip is a kind of airport that consists only of a runway with perhaps fueling equipment. ...

The island is disputed by six countries due to fishing rights, shipping lanes, but more importantly for the potential of petroleum underneath. Pumpjack pumping an oil well near Sarnia, Ontario Petroleum (from Greek petra – rock and elaion – oil or Latin oleum – oil ) or crude oil is a black, dark brown or greenish liquid found in porous rock formations in the earth. ...

Government

Although the are no long term inhabitants on the island, Taiping is administered under the Central municipality of Kaohsiung City by the Republic of China. Direct-controlled municipalities are the highest-level cities in China, with status equal to that of the provinces. ... Kaohsiung City (Traditional Chinese:高雄市, TongYong PinYin: GaoSyóng, Hanyu Pinyin: Gāoxióng, POJ: Ko-hiông; coordinates 22°38N, 120°16E) is the second largest city on Taiwan. ...

Geography

The Spratly Island is made up of:

• Swallow Atoll - a 0.1 square km islet with a man-made Swallow Reef

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

See also

• South China Sea
• South China Sea Islands
• Dongsha Islands or Pratas Islands
• List of islands of the Republic of China

The South China Sea, showing surrounding countries and neighbouring seas and oceans The South China Sea is a marginal sea, part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from Singapore to the Strait of Taiwan of around 3,500,000 km². It is the largest sea body after the five... The South China Sea Islands (or Nanhai Islands, simplified: 南海诸岛, traditional: 南海諸島, pinyin: Nánhǎi Zhūdǎo) is an archipelago of over 250 around 1-km² islands, atolls, cays, shoals, reefs, and sandbars in the South China Sea, most of which have no indigenous people. ... The Pratas Islands (or Dongsha Islands) are located in the middle of the South China Sea (see South China Sea Islands). ... This is a list of islands under the Republic of China administration (all claimed by the Peoples Republic of China). ...

References

• Putative States in the Spratly Archipelago
• Ecological Resources
• Itu Aba
• Itu Aba Islands