Sailing South to the Spratlys

November 1979

中文

At daybreak on Sept. 4 this year, a naval ship of the Republic of China patrolling the South China Sea arrived at the Spratly Islands. The officers and men who lined the deck marveled at the beauty of the southernmost territory of the nation, and the difficulties of their voyage were forgotten.

On the center of the main island of Itu Aba, which is covered with palm trees and green groves, the national flag of the Republic of China flies proudly on a landing memorial tower. As the ship crewmen came ashore on landing craft, the soldiers on guard set off firecrackers to welcome the party.

Not long after they had settled in, the new arrivals decided that the Spratlys, with their beautiful scenery and fresh air, were indeed a paradise. At dusk, the young soldiers went to the beach, where they sang folk songs and war songs to express their love of the sea and to keep up their morale. Others read books in their spare time to prepare for the college entrance examinations, or for studies abroad after they are discharged from military service. To meet the recreational needs of the soldiers, a reception center known as the Chungshan Hall and a movie theater called the Chungcheng Hall, holding hundreds of people, have been erected. The Taipei post office has set up a branch on the island to provide the longest postal service in the country. A medical center has also been established to take care of the soldiers' health.

Despite the long distance from Taiwan, many soldiers do not want to leave the islands after their terms of duty expire. Officer Liu Sengfang, for instance, has volunteered to prolong his stay on Itu Aba Island. To him, the comfort and convenience of cities, together with their hustle and bustle, cannot compare with the peace and beauty of the islands. After spending his working day transmitting telegraph messages from the radio station in the Spratlys, Liu fills his leisure time tending to his vegetable garden, which is now yielding a rich harvest. Not for nothing is Liu known as "king of the island" by the soldiers stationed there.

The inscription on the memorial tower near the national boundary stone says: "Brave soldiers with worthy aims and a proud reputation have gathered on the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea to fight against Communism." It is a fitting tribute to the officers and men stationed on the islands.

Though located well inside the tropics, about 845 nautical miles from Tsoying near Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan, the island's climate is tempered by the ocean, and temperatures range comfortably between 21 and 35 degrees Centigrade. Of all the islands in the South China Sea, the Spratlys have the largest land area, and cover an area of sea ranging from 4 degrees to 11.30 degrees north and 109.30 to 117.50 degrees east of Greenwich. Since most of the atolls and reefs remain unexplored, there are still many hazards to be faced in visiting the islands.

Seabirds' eggs and turtles are among the two favorite foods for the soldiers on the islands. Wine made with turtle eggs is regarded as a great delicacy. Naturally, a great variety of seafood is also served. According to one fisherman's estimate, the three-day fish catch off the Spratlys is equivalent to that of 10 days off the coasts of the main island of Taiwan. And most of the fishery resources in the area have yet to be exploited.

In the field of mineral resources, the phosphate mines in Itu Aba Island are the most well-known and have the highest economic value. Recently, there have been estimates that the islands might lie on top of a vast oil field, thereby attracting strong international attention to the Spratlys. Any intrusion into the area by other nations, however, would undoubtedly be a violation of the sovereign territorial rights of the Republic of China.

As early as the southern Tang Dynasty, the Spratly Islands were recorded in annals as being a main fishing ground for the Chinese people. In the Ming Dynasty, Cheng Ho set sail to explore the South China Sea Islands on seven successive voyages, and claimed the Spratlys as Chinese territory. Old Chinese coins are still occasionally dug up, bearing witness to the fact that the Chinese have frequented the islands from the earliest times. There is even a Ming Dynasty Temple honoring the Goddess of Mercy still discernible on the islands.

The plentiful sunshine, serene ocean, many-colored reefs, and luxuriant vegetation, coupled with the presence of stalwart soldiers, helps to make the southernmost boundary of the Republic of China one of its most worthy outposts.

[Picture Caption]

1. A tombstone dating from the Ching Dynasty has recently been excavated on Itu Aba Island, proving that the Chinese were frequenting the island at that time. 2. The nation's southernmost boundary stone is a spiritual fortress for the personnel on guard. 3. The inscription on this memorial stone expresses the soldiers' determination to fight against Communism. 4. The stone marking the Spratlys' guard perimeter signifies that national forces have reached the area. 5. The memorial stone set up by the marine corps of the Republic of China.

1. Admiring the beauty of sunrise on deck. 2. Loofah (a vegetable) planted by personnel on the island is about shoulder-high. 3. Beautiful flowers surround the area of the phosphate mines 4. in Itu Aba Island, and 5. ROC navy forces deploy on the South China Sea.

1. The majestic bronze statue of the late President Chiang Kai-shek and the Chungcheng Hall, the Island's movie theater nearby. 2. The tall and dense tropical forest 3. Officers receiving assignments for mission on deck 4. Using wireless interphone 5. The supply ship and 6. A boat speeding toward Itu Aba Island.

A tombstone dating from the Ching Dynasty has recently been excavated on Itu Aba Island, proving that the Chinese were frequenting the island at that time.