Taiping Island, the largest naturally formed island of the Nansha (Spratly) Islands in the South China Sea, was visited Sept. 6 for the first time by an international group of academics and researchers organized by the Republic of China (Taiwan) Ministry of Science and Technology.
The 24-strong group comprised members such as marine science and geography professor Timothy Byrne from University of Connecticut, climate change researcher Anne L. Cohen from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, cyclone specialist Kosuke Ito from University of the Ryukyus and typhoon expert Tetsuo Nakazawa from Japan Meteorological Agency.
According to the MOST, the visit is in response to a directive issued by President Tsai Ing-wen during her first National Security Council meeting in July 2016 to cultivate greater interest in Taiping Island as a base for cross-border scientific studies by foreign researchers. It was organized as part of the ministry-staged International Science Forum on the South China Sea Sept. 4-5 in Taipei City.
Involving around 100 academics from home and abroad, the event served as an outstanding platform for addressing major issues in environmental sciences, as well as reviewing the latest findings and ideas.
Supporting South China Sea-related atmospheric, geological and marine research is a longstanding policy of the government. A number of initiatives have been implemented to date, including the establishment of an earthquake monitoring station on Dongsha (Pratas) Island in 2003 and a weather station and seismometer on Taiping Island in 2012.
The latest undertaking is the South China Sea International Science Project Office. Launched by the MOST in November 2016, the office is tasked with promoting collaboration between Taiwan and countries and territories in the region, as well as inviting experts to conduct research on Dongsha and Taiping islands.
Located 1,600 kilometers south of Kaohsiung City, Taiping Island is home to more than 200 people, including Coast Guard Administration personnel, medical staff and scientists. (SFC-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw