Recently, taiwan media reported that the Taiwan military decided to extend the runway of Taiping Island in Nansha from the existing 1150 meters to 1500 meters. Why suddenly extend the runway of Taiping Island? Let me first introduce you to the situation of Taiping Island.
With an area of 0.51 square kilometers, Taiping Island is the only island in the Spratly Islands with fresh water. The island is not only rich in fresh water, but also abundant, with four freshwater wells, and the people of the island will take the water from one well to raise tilapia. In addition to raising fish, the island also has chickens and sheep, and the people on the island say that they have meat and eggs to eat. The island produces its own fruit, with 1,500 coconuts a year and 200-300 kilograms of papayas and plantains. But the island doesn't produce vegetables, so the people on the island have a happy farm that grows bitter melon, loofah, corn, and peppers.
Of course, if the people on the island live for a long time, these supplies are still not enough, so Taiping Island has an airport, and Taiwan transports personnel and supplies through C-130 transport aircraft. The runway of this airport is 1150 meters long, which is sufficient for the take-off and landing of the C-130. It is said that the Taiwan side plans to take off and land P-3C anti-submarine aircraft and F-16 fighter jets on Taiping Island. The P-3C's anti-submarine aircraft requires a 975-meter runway for take-off and landing, and the F-16 fighter requires a 1000-meter runway for take-off and landing, that is, the existing 1150-meter runway is completely sufficient. So now to extend the run to 1500 meters, is it to remember what plane to drop?
Taiwan had thought of extending the runway of Taiping Island in the past, but it did not start construction. Why? Because to protect the green sea turtle. You see, the current runway is 1150 meters long, has reached the sea, if it is to be extended, it is necessary to reclaim the sea. The reclaimed beach at the end of the runway is where green sea turtles lay their eggs.
The Taiwan authorities have listed Taiping Island as a Green Sea Turtle Sanctuary, and all those who come to the island will be told that they must not harass the green sea turtle unless they see it stranded or injured. The people on the island will also carefully abide by this rule. It is said that a ship transported supplies to the island that year, but it lost its direction in the fog, and at this time, they saw a green sea turtle, followed by green sea turtles, and finally arrived at Taiping Island. So There has always been a tradition of protecting green sea turtles on Taiping Island. At the end of the runway, this beach, the people on the island generally rarely go, is afraid to disturb the green turtles to lay eggs.
Because of the protection of green sea turtles. Therefore, over the years, the projects related to Taiping Island Airport have been repaired, such as repairing the damaged runway surface, installing a runway light for night flights, adding drainage facilities, and repairing an oil depot for refueling aircraft. After so many years, now suddenly saying that they want to extend the runway, many people in Taiwan ask, are green sea turtles not laying eggs here?
It is worth noting that this is not the first time that the Taiwan authorities have recently made a fuss on Taiping Island. In the November 2021 defense report of the Taiwan authorities, it was said that the Taiwan authorities' Hailong submarine went to the vicinity of Taiping Island to conduct so-called "regular reconnaissance and patrol tactical confrontation exercises." The word "regular" tells us that the Taiwan authorities must have sent submarines to the vicinity of Taiping Island more than once, and we know that among Taiwan's four submarines, there are two submarines that can fight, the Sea Dragon and the Sea Tiger, and it is said that the Taiwan military regards these two submarines as treasures, and if they want to carry out activities near Taiwan Island, why should they send their ships to Taiping Island, which is 1600 kilometers away?
So no matter from which point of view, behind this matter, there is a shadow of the United States. After Tsai Ing-wen came to power in 2016, she has repeatedly made moves on the South China Sea issue, and everyone can see that her actions are aimed at pandering to the United States. The Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank, has published a study on the length of the runway on Taiping Island and the types of aircraft that can take off and land. This time, Taiping Island extended the runway, which is her new trick to please the United States.
We want to sternly warn the Taiwan authorities that Taiping Island is a treasure left to us by our ancestors and a treasure left to us by our ancestors, and we must keep it well. If you dare to use it to please the Americans, Taiping Island will probably not be peaceful.