Taiping Island - Island Conditions

Island Conditions

There is plentiful freshwater on the island; however, many naturally occurring wells contain chloride salts. There are a few wells on the eastern side of the island with acceptable quality freshwater, whilst the rest are not suitable for drinking. In the 1980s, the ROC Ministry of National Defense drilled various wells 600 metres deep throughout the island. In 1992, a water catchment, reservoirs and other facilities were constructed. In 1993, two complete desalination machines were placed on the island, which operate for four hours each day, generating approximately 6,000 gallons of fresh water.

Facilities on the island are powered mainly by five 200 kW diesel generators; all fuel is shipped from Taiwan island. In December 2001, solar energy devices of 20.3 kW capacity were erected as backup power.

There is a shelter for fishermen, hospital, weather stations, satellite telecommunications facilities, radar surveillance and other communications equipment located on the island.

There are five public telephones on the island, which are connected via satellite communications. There is also internet connectivity on the island.

Mobile phone reception is available for individuals with international roaming; a signal from Vietnam Military Electronics and Telecommunications (Viettel Mobile) reaches the island from a GSM base station on Hongxiu Island currently controlled by Vietnam, and a signal from China Mobile can be accessed from a GSM base station located on Nanxun Reef controlled by the PRC. Taiwan's Chunghwa Telecom is evaluating the feasibility of building a satellite-based cellular base stations on the island to provide the coast guard with communication services.

Bridge piers were constructed in 1992, but are damaged and have yet to be repaired. Since there are many reefs around the island and the surrounding water is too shallow, transportation and supply vessels are unable to dock with the island itself. Supplies are loaded and unloaded by raft and taken to and from shore from an anchorage about 1.2 nautical miles away from the island. Supplies are transferred with a safety load of 10 tons, and there is a high degree of difficulty due to the risk of large waves; rubber rafts carrying supplies and maintenance require time-consuming and difficult manual handling.

Three ROC Coast Guard boats of the M8 model, designated Nanhai 4, Nanhai 5 and Nanhai 6 (Chinese: 南海四號,南海五號,南海六號, "Nanhai" literally translates to "South Sea" or "South China Sea") are prepared to patrol the island but are not considered sufficient to adequately monitor the island's surroundings. In December 2006, rebuilding began on a damaged L-shaped pier, the Southern Star Ferry Pier (Chinese: 南星碼頭), in order to improve the transportation and supply of materials for the Coast Guard. Currently, a military supply ship services the island during a single voyage in April and November each year, anchoring for one day to deliver personnel and military supplies. Additionally, a civil merchantman arrives with general goods every 20 days, anchoring for 1 to 2 days at a time. This ship may be used as a transport for stationed personnel.

The island has a helicopter platform that is not used frequently. The Taiping Island Airport features a take-off and landing airstrip caters for C-130 transport planes of the ROC Air Force, with one sortie arriving every two months. The runway on the island is 1200 metres long, 30 metres wide, and can accommodate two C-130 aircraft; there are plans to expand the runway in the future.

The ROC Central Weather Bureau has employee presence on the island. The total population of the island is about 600 with no civilians.