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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →The Dongsha Islands—also called the Pratas Islands—are a coral atoll in the northern South China Sea, about 240 nautical miles southwest of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Their position south of the Taiwan Strait and near regional maritime approaches gives them geographic significance, but the available official sources do not show that Dongsha controls or can close shipping routes.
Where are the Dongsha Islands?
Dongsha Atoll lies in the northern South China Sea between Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Luzon. Taiwan’s Marine National Park Headquarters gives its position as 20°35–47′ N and 116°42–55′ E, and lists it as 240 nautical miles from Kaohsiung. The atoll is also 230 nautical miles from Penghu, 140 nautical miles from Shantou, 170 nautical miles from Hong Kong, and 360 nautical miles from Hainan Island, according to the Marine National Park Headquarters. The Taiwan National Park Service likewise places it southwest of Kaohsiung.
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What do “Dongsha Islands” and “Dongsha Atoll” refer to?
Dongsha Atoll is the larger coral reef and lagoon system. Dongsha Island is the exposed island on the atoll’s western side and its only portion that remains above sea level year-round. “Dongsha Islands” and “Pratas Islands” are broader names commonly used for the area.
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Why is Dongsha strategically important?
A position near regional maritime approaches
Dongsha lies south of the Taiwan Strait, near maritime approaches toward the Bashi Channel to the east and Hainan, Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau to the west. Its location helps explain why the atoll draws attention in discussions of regional maritime activity. Taiwan’s National Park Service also describes it as lying on a major maritime trade route.
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Geographic significance is not proof of control
Proximity to routes does not establish that Dongsha controls, monitors, or can block them. The cited official sources do not provide evidence of a present-day military capability, force levels, or a specific operational role in a contingency. The Marine National Park Headquarters says Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration is responsible for homeland defense and sea patrol; that is the extent of the specific current security role established here.
Who administers and manages the atoll?
Taiwan administers Dongsha through Kaohsiung. The Coast Guard Administration handles homeland defense and sea patrol, while the Marine National Park Headquarters manages conservation and sustainable use. This division distinguishes the area’s security responsibilities from its protected-area management.
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Why is Dongsha important for conservation?
A protected coral and seagrass ecosystem
Taiwan established Dongsha Atoll National Park on January 17, 2007, making it the country’s first marine national park. The Marine National Park Headquarters describes the protected area as 353,668 hectares, centered on the atoll with a 12-nautical-mile radius. Its conservation features include coral reefs, seagrass, and the island’s coral-sand formation.
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Biodiversity figures reported by the park authority
The park authority reports 690 fish species recorded in Dongsha waters, more than 1,200 hectares of seagrass beds around Dongsha Island, and seven seagrass species. It describes the atoll as a stepping-stone for the dispersal of marine organisms in the South China Sea. The page does not specify survey years for those biodiversity figures, so they should be understood as reported statistics rather than fresh measurements.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What does Dongsha’s maritime history add?
Reefs, shoals, and stormy conditions have made waters near Dongsha hazardous to ships. Taiwan’s National Park Service reports at least 28 shipwrecks near the island, attributing the count to Hsiang-chien Wu. The page does not provide a date or details of a current wreck inventory, so the number is best treated as a reported historical count, not a verified up-to-date total.
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