Pratas Islands
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The Pratas Islands or Dong-Sha Islands (東沙羣島) consists of three islands located in northeastern South China Sea, 340 km southeast of Hong Kong.
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History
First called Moon Island, Pratas Islands was first acknowledged as Chinese territory during the Chin and Han dynasties. Further development was under taken during the Ming era. A Japanese businessman named Nishizawa Yoshizi occupied Pratas Island during World War II and remained under Japanese control until 1946.
It has historically been uninhabited, and nations like China and Japan claimed it to be their overseas territory. After World War II, the islands and the sea area around it were mandated by United Nations.
In the Journal of Science April 1867 there is a nine page article entitled THE NATURAL HISTORY OF PRATAS ISLAND IN THE CHINA SEA by Dr. Cuthbert Collingwood, Naturalist on board H.M.S. 'Serpent'.
It describes what was observed, especially bird life, during a visit of two days whilst the Surveying Ship lay at anchor. More information on this item may be obtained by reference to Malcolm Sealy at mallarray@aapt.net.au who holds a copy of this relevant journal.
Today they are administered by the Republic of China (Taiwan), which calls it Dong-Sha Islands (Traditional Chinese: 東沙群島; Mandarin Pinyin: Dōngshā Qúndǎo; lit. East Sand Islands) and assigns the place the postal code 817. The People's Republic of China claims the islands as part of its Guangdong Province.
Geography
Pratas is located 850km southwest of Taipei and 340km southeast of Hong Kong in the northern part of the South China Sea or the Pratas Terrace (Template:Coor dm). The island is 2.8 km long and 0.865 km wide.
The island is made up of coral attolls and reef flats. Only Pratas Island is above sea level, Northern Vereker and Southern Vereker attolls are under water. Brush, vines and bushes cover some of Pratas and rest is white sand. Other flora and fauna on Pratas:
- silver silk tree
- strawberry tung tree
- coconut tree
- little Terns
- turnstones
- gullbilled Terns
- parrotfish
- starfish
- rock lobsters
- crabs
- sharks
The island is shaped like a ring and consists of three major entities in the area:
- Pratas Island (東沙島)
- North Vereker Bank (北衛灘)
- South Vereker Bank (南衛灘)
There are also some seamount formations nearby, but not part of the main island:
- Jianfeng Seamount (尖峰海山)
- Maojia Seamount (芼架海山)
- Beipo Seamount (北波海山)
Settlements
As a disputed island, there are no inhabitants on the island and are only visited by the military personnel or researchers.
A runway is located on the north end of Pratas Island with a small airport terminal at the eastern end. The airport is used by the Taiwanese military. A main shack and sub shack are located in the southeast end of the island. Two piers in the southeast shore allows for small watercraft to land.
The other structure on the island include:
- Pratas Island Landmark, an obleisk erected after 1946
- Pratas Island Stone Tablet 1954
- Pratas Da Wang Temple 1975
- The Pratas Island Measuring Memorial Stone Tablet 1991
- Stone Tablet Symbolizing National Sovereignty Over Pratas 1989
- Pratas Triangulation Bench Mark 1991
- Pratas Library
- Pratas Military Post Office
- Pratas Fishermen's Service Station 1987
Government
Although there are no long term inhabitants on the island, Taiping is administered under the Central municipality of Kaohsiung City.
