In June 2018, Taiwan's "National Defense" think tank reported: A pro-green camp "national defense" think tank made an internal suggestion to let the DPP authorities in the name of " humanitarian rescue " rent a part of Taiping Island to the US to use .
What is worrying is that this internal suggestion is consistent with the content of proposed by Tsai Ing-wen in 2016, "promoting Taiping Island to become a humanitarian rescue center and transportation base, and opening it to all countries for use." .
Due to the serious consequences, Taiwan's " Foreign Affairs Department " issued a statement saying: " This is a false report. Taiwan has never planned to rent Taiping Island to a "foreign". Other countries, including the United States, have never requested to Taiwan to lease the island " . later, things became more and more intense, and Taiwan had to publish Simplified Chinese to reiterate this position many times.
In fact, no matter whether this matter is true or false, even if there is such a trend, it is extremely dangerous. Just imagine what kind of thing a group of US troops suddenly appeared on the largest natural island in the core area of Nansha Islands !
Taiping Island aerial photography
The real strategic value of Nansha Taiping Island
Taiping Island can be called " Nanhai heart", which has great strategic value, but what is its real strategic value must be clearly understood in combination with the background of the times.
Early, the greatest value of Taiping Island was that it had fresh water that can be consumed directly, and it was the only island in Nansha that has such a large amount of fresh water. This is a treasure island given to Chinese fishermen who sailed to the Nansha Islands to catch fish in the sailing era.
Because there was no saying that seawater desalination in the Nansha Islands at that time, fishermen went to sea for several months at a time, and it was almost impossible to bring enough fresh water before going to sea. At this time, Taiping Island not only could shelter the wind and stop ships, but it was also the only fresh water supply base, which shows its strategic value. In addition, the abundant fresh water resources are conducive to the long-term garrison of Taiping Island.
Administrative Building on Taiping Island
0 After China joined the World Trade Organization , foreign trade has increased explosively, and most of the routes have to pass through the South China Sea. Taiping Island’s special geographical location also has important value in waterway safety, shipwreck notification, South China Sea meteorological monitoring, international flight intelligence, etc.
With the construction of the seven islands in Nansha, China, the role of freshwater and humanitarian rescue in Taiping Island has been greatly weakened, because the newly built islands in Nansha, mainland China can store and desalinate seawater in large quantities, and freshwater resources can even support the production, life and greening needs of a small city. Humanitarian rescue is closer to the main channel of the South China Sea than Taiping Island, and the facilities are more advanced, and the irreplaceable nature of Taiping Island has gradually declined.
China Nansha Administrative and Military Command Center Yongshu Island
China Nansha Administrative and Military Command Center Yongshu Island
China Nansha Administrative and Military Command Center Yongshu Island
Then the largest island in Nansha in the past is not important? Of course not. In some ways, its importance has increased and unabated, but its important value is more reflected in legal principles. Taiwan will play a greater value after its return.
The more important issue behind Taiping Island is the sovereignty dispute between the Nansha Islands. On January 28, 2016, Ma Ying-jeou boarded Taiping Island, visited the islands and made a conversation. He said: "Whether in terms of history, geography and international law, the sovereignty of the Nansha Islands, Xisha Islands, Zhongsha Islands, Dongsha Islands, and its surrounding waters are unquestionable."
At the same time, Ma Ying-jeou also solemnly declared: "Taiping Island is an island, not a reef, and it fully complies with the definition of islands in the Convention on the Law of the Sea."
We know that mainland China also often says that in terms of history, geography and international law, China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands. In fact, all islands were inhabited by Chinese fishermen before, so we certainly have all the sovereignty of the Nansha Islands, but for various reasons, mainland China has a period of blank in the Nansha Islands, and a large number of Nansha Islands and reefs were occupied.
At this time, our claim is reasonable. Taiping Island, which is continuously stationed and managed by Taiwan Province in China, is one of the best proofs for China to own the Nansha Islands. After all, Both sides of the Taiwan Strait insist on China's sovereignty over it in terms of the ownership of South China Sea islands .
Taiping Island has never been cut off since the 11-segment line of the South China Sea. This is the most unique strategic value of Taiping Island, which can help China legitimately recover all islands and reefs in Nansha.
Mainland China has entered Nanxun Reef to guard Taiping Island
It can be said that if Taiping Island was in the hands of mainland China early, the problems of the Nansha Islands might be Much simpler, the confrontation between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait made the Taiwanese authorities have the idea of completely withdrawing from the Nansha to protect themselves.
1 On April 18, 1971, the Taiwan authorities ordered all garrisons on Zhongye Island to withdraw to Taiping Island to avoid typhoons. After the typhoon, the troops avoiding typhoons did not return to Zhongye Island, and Philippine took the opportunity to invade Zhongye Island.
12 February 3, 2, also in order to avoid typhoons, the commander of Taiping Island ordered Dunqian Shazhou The defenders withdrew from Taiping Island, and Vietnamese troops immediately landed on Dunqian Shazhou to occupy it.
Taiwan's actions make people feel that they are gradually giving up the outer island of Taiping Island, and may eventually give up Taiping Island directly. Mainland China chose to enter Nanxun Reef, because Nanxun Reef is only 18 nautical miles away from Taiping Island, which can ensure that Taiping Island is not unexpected. If Taiping Island falls into the hands of Vietnam, the consequences will be unimaginable.
Zhenghe Reef Satellite Map
It can be seen that when China chose to enter Nanxun Reef, Taiping Island was one of the main considerations. Otherwise, the conditions of Nanxun Reef were not good. Not only were the reefs small, but the wind and waves were also the largest. It was known as the "Nansha in the Nansha". China also had other better choices. In 1988, China sent a formation to control the Nansha Daxing Reef, but it was not stationed in the end.
Daxing Reef The area of the reefs reached 24.8 square kilometers, while the Nanxun Reef Reef was only about 2 square kilometers. Because the number of reefs in China has been finalized, it has given up on the selection of Nanxun Reef. It has to be said that it is a pity. .
Nanxun Island built to protect Taiping Island
China will build Nanxun Island into a green fortress
1990 On November 7, 2009, the horrific "Nanxun Reef Case " occurred in the high-legged house of Nanxun Reef. 11 soldiers stationed in the reef were buried in the vast South China Sea. According to investigation, November 7 is the date when the missing contact is discovered. The tragedy may have happened one or two days before, and it has passed completely today. 31 years have passed.
On June 6, 2014, China began to carry out large-scale land filling on Nanxun Reef. After the filling, the area of Nanxun Island has transformed from a reef fort of three or four hundred square meters into a large island of 0.18 square kilometers. The center of the main island is a complex building with a height of nearly 30 meters. The island also has a complete infrastructure such as ports, aprons, radar stations, and desalination plants.
In addition, the intelligent microgrid composed of photovoltaic, wind and fuel power generation makes the power supply of Nanxun Island as stable as inland cities.
Nanxun Island is full of wind power
On October 25, 2022, a Filipino photographer took a private plane to take a group of aerial photos of Nanxun Island in the air. One perspective is shocking, that is, the old reef fort on Nanxun Reef and the newly built island are connected, and the two hatchbacks are hundreds of times different.
The former high-footed house where the reef guards lived for decades is the sea. Now when you go out, you can walk onto a vast land, plant trees, train and patrol, and even pass through a forest. The great changes are amazing.
October 25, 2022Nanxun Island aerial photo
October 25, 2022Nanxun Island aerial photo
Nanxun Island greening achievements are even more incredible. The island's casuarina and coconut trees have become forests, and the coast's windbreak forest has become as lush as Taiping Island.
October 25, 2022Nanxun Island aerial photo
October 25, 2022Nanxun Island aerial photo
October 25, 2022Nanxun Island
October 25, 2022Nanxun Island can still see smoke from cooking from the aerial photo. It is estimated that the shooting time is just before and after the dinner time of the reef guards. Nanxun Island, where the ecologicalization of the island and reef is accelerated, has no longer had the hardships of the past. Good guarantee is combat effectiveness. Now Nanxun Island has long become a green fortress.
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