The Pratas Islands, also known as the Dongsha Islands, are an atoll in the north of the South China Sea consisting of three islets about 340 kilometers (211mi) southeast of Hong Kong. Excluding their associated EEZ and territorial waters, the islets comprise about 240ha (590 acres), including 64ha (160 acres) of lagoon area. The People's Republic of China claims the islands, but the Republic of China (Taiwan) controls them and has declared them a national park. The main island of the group—Pratas Island—is the largest of the South China Sea Islands.
Name
The English name of the islands derives from the PortugueseIlhas das Pratas ("Silver Plate Islands"), which was given to the atoll in the 16th century owing to its round shape.
Dongsha is the pinyinromanization of the Chinese name Dōngshā Qúndǎo (t東沙群島, s东沙群岛), meaning "Eastern Sandy Archipelago". The name distinguishes it from Xisha, the western archipelago, better known as the Paracel Islands.
History
The Pratas Islands were first recorded by the Chinese over 1000 years ago in the book "Guangzhou Ji" (廣州記) written by Pei Yuan (裴淵) during the Jin Dynasty. Chinese fishermen fished in the sea around the Pratas by that time.
WHY ARE TAIWAN & CHINA IN DISPUTE OVER DONGSHA ISLANDS? BBC NEWS
Subscribe to BBC News www.youtube.com/bbcnews
There are several ongoing territorial disputes in the seas in East Asia. China and Taiwan are locked in disagreement about a small group of islands known as Dongsha. They're controlled by Taiwan.
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published: 04 Dec 2013
stock footage dongsha airport island south china sea
The 2nd Dongsha Open of Surfing(China) will kick off on Auguest 24-25 in Zhujiajian Island of Zhoushan. It's a grand event that bring together surfing lovers from Asian countries. As the Paris Oylmpic Games is still taking place, bring your families and kids and enjoy participants's passion for this mind-blowing sports event and their skill shows.
published: 08 Aug 2024
Military-chartered plane flies from Kaohsiung to Dongsha Islands without incident
The Coast Guard was able to run a routine supply flight to the Taipei-controlled Dongsha Islands in the South China Sea on Monday. The successful trip came 11 days after a routine flight was denied access to the area by Hong Kong air traffic controllers, who cited "dangerous activities" in the airspace. The source of the activities remains unclear even after two weeks. According to a Hong Kong report, Chinese missile drills were taking place at the time. But Taiwan''s defense ministry says its tracking had turned up nothing unusual in the area.
With luggage in tow, Coast Guard personnel prepare to board. After a two-week delay, the Coast Guard’s UNI Air charter plane was able to depart for the Dongsha Islands Monday at 8:35 a.m.
The Coast Guard charters a service from UNI Air that leave...
published: 26 Oct 2020
Chinese Historic Village——Dongsha Village
Dongsha Village (also known as Dongsha Fishing Village) is located at the southeast end of Kanmen Street of Donghai Fishing Town in Yuhuan Island, in ZheJiang Province,with an area of 0.22 square kilometers.
It is surrounded by the sea on three sides, where most villagers make their living by fishing.
Dongsha Village is adjacent to Nanpai Mountain, looking across the sea from Jishan Island, Dalu Island, Dongtou Island and other islands, and connecting with the Yingdong community by the mountains.
published: 02 Jan 2021
College students visit Dongsha Islands to learn about local ecology
This month, the Coast Guard Administration hosted a group of university students on a tour of Dongsha Islands, part of Taiwan''s first maritime national park, which are located 450 km from Taiwan in the South China Sea. It was a special opportunity for students to experience the unique ecology of these remote islands, which are rarely opened to the public. A group of college students from schools all over Taiwan landed on the Dongsha Islands in the South China Sea for a tour of the local ecology.They helped to collect trash and various marine creatures which washed up on the beaches in an attempt to help return the islands'' environment to its previous pristine state.A maritime conservation zone on the islands allowed students to not only get a close up look at sea turtles recovering from ...
published: 17 May 2016
Bejeweled Ring in the South China Sea-Dongsha Atoll(3min)
After eons of continuous building
Corals have formed a perfectly shaped
Brilliantly colored ring
In the South China Sea
Drifting organisms
are the atoll’s lifeblood
Fishes dart about
The soft corals gracefully sway
A richly layered 3-dimensional space
It’s the cornerstone nurturing the diversity of marine life
A sea grass bed covering 10,000 hectares
Forms the most distinctive habitat in the lagoon
Coral skeletons
Gradually accumulated
To form the thriving Dongsha Atoll of today
The seeds of some terrestrial plants
Sprouts grow and thrive here
Contributing to Dongsha Island’s lush greenery
These guests from afar
Frolicking on the sandbar adjoining the atoll lagoon
Dongsha Atoll
Is like the Eden of the South China Sea
The continuing stream of life
Inherit the d...
published: 13 Oct 2016
Peeping into Dongsha Islands
Dongsha Atoll Natl. Park
東沙環礁國家公園
Made by Gina
Script by Gina & Bruce
Voice by Bruce
Music from One Marathon –Reverie Sound Revue
Pic from
玩樂之道PLAY&THINK
http://playxthink.blogspot.tw/2014/09/x-x.html?showComment=1437623468634#c986755778069317171
Sky Walker
http://blog.xuite.net/ci17518/skywalker/25424718-%E5%8F%B0%E7%81%A3+-+%E5%9C%8B%E5%A2%83%E4%B9%8B%E5%8D%97+%E6%9D%B1%E6%B2%99%E7%BE%A4%E5%B3%B6#message_header
The Basement Geographer
http://basementgeographer.com/the-pratas-islands/
Earth Snapshot
http://www.eosnap.com/?s=pratas
海洋國家公園管理處
http://marine.cpami.gov.tw/chinese/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=1
東沙巡禮2015年第2梯學員:俊甫、彥霖、子惠、信博
Subscribe to BBC News www.youtube.com/bbcnews
There are several ongoing territorial disputes in the seas in East Asia. China and Taiwan are locked in disagreem...
Subscribe to BBC News www.youtube.com/bbcnews
There are several ongoing territorial disputes in the seas in East Asia. China and Taiwan are locked in disagreement about a small group of islands known as Dongsha. They're controlled by Taiwan.
Subscribe http://www.youtube.com/bbcnews
Check out our website: http://www.bbc.com/news
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bbcworldnews
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/bbcworld
Instagram: http://instagram.com/bbcnews
Subscribe to BBC News www.youtube.com/bbcnews
There are several ongoing territorial disputes in the seas in East Asia. China and Taiwan are locked in disagreement about a small group of islands known as Dongsha. They're controlled by Taiwan.
Subscribe http://www.youtube.com/bbcnews
Check out our website: http://www.bbc.com/news
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bbcworldnews
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/bbcworld
Instagram: http://instagram.com/bbcnews
The 2nd Dongsha Open of Surfing(China) will kick off on Auguest 24-25 in Zhujiajian Island of Zhoushan. It's a grand event that bring together surfing lovers fr...
The 2nd Dongsha Open of Surfing(China) will kick off on Auguest 24-25 in Zhujiajian Island of Zhoushan. It's a grand event that bring together surfing lovers from Asian countries. As the Paris Oylmpic Games is still taking place, bring your families and kids and enjoy participants's passion for this mind-blowing sports event and their skill shows.
The 2nd Dongsha Open of Surfing(China) will kick off on Auguest 24-25 in Zhujiajian Island of Zhoushan. It's a grand event that bring together surfing lovers from Asian countries. As the Paris Oylmpic Games is still taking place, bring your families and kids and enjoy participants's passion for this mind-blowing sports event and their skill shows.
The Coast Guard was able to run a routine supply flight to the Taipei-controlled Dongsha Islands in the South China Sea on Monday. The successful trip came 11 d...
The Coast Guard was able to run a routine supply flight to the Taipei-controlled Dongsha Islands in the South China Sea on Monday. The successful trip came 11 days after a routine flight was denied access to the area by Hong Kong air traffic controllers, who cited "dangerous activities" in the airspace. The source of the activities remains unclear even after two weeks. According to a Hong Kong report, Chinese missile drills were taking place at the time. But Taiwan''s defense ministry says its tracking had turned up nothing unusual in the area.
With luggage in tow, Coast Guard personnel prepare to board. After a two-week delay, the Coast Guard’s UNI Air charter plane was able to depart for the Dongsha Islands Monday at 8:35 a.m.
The Coast Guard charters a service from UNI Air that leaves every Thursday from Kaohsiung International Airport. The service mainly transports Coast Guard personnel between Taiwan and the Dongsha Islands. Last Thursday, Oct. 22, the flight was canceled due to a tropical storm.
Lai Yu-chieh
Coast Guard Administration official
After assessing the weather conditions and the flight schedule, the plane was rescheduled for a departure today. With regard to adjustments to leave and vacation rights made after the flight change, the Coast Guard Administration’s Dongsha unit has already communicated them to the officers and soldiers.
Prior to the typhoon cancellation, the plane had departed for the Dongsha Islands right on schedule on Thursday, Oct. 15. As it approached Hong Kong’s Flight Information Region, the city’s air traffic controllers said “dangerous” activities were underway below an altitude of 26,000 feet. Refused entry, the UNI Air flight returned to Kaohsiung. On Thursday reporters asked if the Coast Guard had contacted Hong Kong authorities to resolve the incident. The CGA’s Dongsha unit said the question should be addressed to the Civil Aeronautics Administration.
Lai Yu-chieh
Coast Guard Administration official
We prepared for this flight in accordance with our instructions from UNI Air.
Taiwan’s defense ministry denies there were Chinese military exercises underway when the UNI Air flight was warned off. On Monday the supply plane successfully completed its flight to the Dongsha Islands. Another routine flight is slated to leave Thursday.
The Coast Guard was able to run a routine supply flight to the Taipei-controlled Dongsha Islands in the South China Sea on Monday. The successful trip came 11 days after a routine flight was denied access to the area by Hong Kong air traffic controllers, who cited "dangerous activities" in the airspace. The source of the activities remains unclear even after two weeks. According to a Hong Kong report, Chinese missile drills were taking place at the time. But Taiwan''s defense ministry says its tracking had turned up nothing unusual in the area.
With luggage in tow, Coast Guard personnel prepare to board. After a two-week delay, the Coast Guard’s UNI Air charter plane was able to depart for the Dongsha Islands Monday at 8:35 a.m.
The Coast Guard charters a service from UNI Air that leaves every Thursday from Kaohsiung International Airport. The service mainly transports Coast Guard personnel between Taiwan and the Dongsha Islands. Last Thursday, Oct. 22, the flight was canceled due to a tropical storm.
Lai Yu-chieh
Coast Guard Administration official
After assessing the weather conditions and the flight schedule, the plane was rescheduled for a departure today. With regard to adjustments to leave and vacation rights made after the flight change, the Coast Guard Administration’s Dongsha unit has already communicated them to the officers and soldiers.
Prior to the typhoon cancellation, the plane had departed for the Dongsha Islands right on schedule on Thursday, Oct. 15. As it approached Hong Kong’s Flight Information Region, the city’s air traffic controllers said “dangerous” activities were underway below an altitude of 26,000 feet. Refused entry, the UNI Air flight returned to Kaohsiung. On Thursday reporters asked if the Coast Guard had contacted Hong Kong authorities to resolve the incident. The CGA’s Dongsha unit said the question should be addressed to the Civil Aeronautics Administration.
Lai Yu-chieh
Coast Guard Administration official
We prepared for this flight in accordance with our instructions from UNI Air.
Taiwan’s defense ministry denies there were Chinese military exercises underway when the UNI Air flight was warned off. On Monday the supply plane successfully completed its flight to the Dongsha Islands. Another routine flight is slated to leave Thursday.
Dongsha Village (also known as Dongsha Fishing Village) is located at the southeast end of Kanmen Street of Donghai Fishing Town in Yuhuan Island, in ZheJiang P...
Dongsha Village (also known as Dongsha Fishing Village) is located at the southeast end of Kanmen Street of Donghai Fishing Town in Yuhuan Island, in ZheJiang Province,with an area of 0.22 square kilometers.
It is surrounded by the sea on three sides, where most villagers make their living by fishing.
Dongsha Village is adjacent to Nanpai Mountain, looking across the sea from Jishan Island, Dalu Island, Dongtou Island and other islands, and connecting with the Yingdong community by the mountains.
Dongsha Village (also known as Dongsha Fishing Village) is located at the southeast end of Kanmen Street of Donghai Fishing Town in Yuhuan Island, in ZheJiang Province,with an area of 0.22 square kilometers.
It is surrounded by the sea on three sides, where most villagers make their living by fishing.
Dongsha Village is adjacent to Nanpai Mountain, looking across the sea from Jishan Island, Dalu Island, Dongtou Island and other islands, and connecting with the Yingdong community by the mountains.
This month, the Coast Guard Administration hosted a group of university students on a tour of Dongsha Islands, part of Taiwan''s first maritime national park, w...
This month, the Coast Guard Administration hosted a group of university students on a tour of Dongsha Islands, part of Taiwan''s first maritime national park, which are located 450 km from Taiwan in the South China Sea. It was a special opportunity for students to experience the unique ecology of these remote islands, which are rarely opened to the public. A group of college students from schools all over Taiwan landed on the Dongsha Islands in the South China Sea for a tour of the local ecology.They helped to collect trash and various marine creatures which washed up on the beaches in an attempt to help return the islands'' environment to its previous pristine state.A maritime conservation zone on the islands allowed students to not only get a close up look at sea turtles recovering from injury, but also learn how to reconstruct coral reefs. Marine ConservationistYou put each piece of coral on a chopstick. When the ocean conditions are calmer, we''ll take them and put them on the seafloor.For these college students, the chance to witness the ecological diversity and immaculate seas surrounding the Dongsha Islands was an eye-opening experience like nothing they could learn from a textbook.
This month, the Coast Guard Administration hosted a group of university students on a tour of Dongsha Islands, part of Taiwan''s first maritime national park, which are located 450 km from Taiwan in the South China Sea. It was a special opportunity for students to experience the unique ecology of these remote islands, which are rarely opened to the public. A group of college students from schools all over Taiwan landed on the Dongsha Islands in the South China Sea for a tour of the local ecology.They helped to collect trash and various marine creatures which washed up on the beaches in an attempt to help return the islands'' environment to its previous pristine state.A maritime conservation zone on the islands allowed students to not only get a close up look at sea turtles recovering from injury, but also learn how to reconstruct coral reefs. Marine ConservationistYou put each piece of coral on a chopstick. When the ocean conditions are calmer, we''ll take them and put them on the seafloor.For these college students, the chance to witness the ecological diversity and immaculate seas surrounding the Dongsha Islands was an eye-opening experience like nothing they could learn from a textbook.
After eons of continuous building
Corals have formed a perfectly shaped
Brilliantly colored ring
In the South China Sea
Drifting organisms
are the atoll’s...
After eons of continuous building
Corals have formed a perfectly shaped
Brilliantly colored ring
In the South China Sea
Drifting organisms
are the atoll’s lifeblood
Fishes dart about
The soft corals gracefully sway
A richly layered 3-dimensional space
It’s the cornerstone nurturing the diversity of marine life
A sea grass bed covering 10,000 hectares
Forms the most distinctive habitat in the lagoon
Coral skeletons
Gradually accumulated
To form the thriving Dongsha Atoll of today
The seeds of some terrestrial plants
Sprouts grow and thrive here
Contributing to Dongsha Island’s lush greenery
These guests from afar
Frolicking on the sandbar adjoining the atoll lagoon
Dongsha Atoll
Is like the Eden of the South China Sea
The continuing stream of life
Inherit the desire to drift
They set their sights on places
Ever more distant
After eons of continuous building
Corals have formed a perfectly shaped
Brilliantly colored ring
In the South China Sea
Drifting organisms
are the atoll’s lifeblood
Fishes dart about
The soft corals gracefully sway
A richly layered 3-dimensional space
It’s the cornerstone nurturing the diversity of marine life
A sea grass bed covering 10,000 hectares
Forms the most distinctive habitat in the lagoon
Coral skeletons
Gradually accumulated
To form the thriving Dongsha Atoll of today
The seeds of some terrestrial plants
Sprouts grow and thrive here
Contributing to Dongsha Island’s lush greenery
These guests from afar
Frolicking on the sandbar adjoining the atoll lagoon
Dongsha Atoll
Is like the Eden of the South China Sea
The continuing stream of life
Inherit the desire to drift
They set their sights on places
Ever more distant
Dongsha Atoll Natl. Park
東沙環礁國家公園
Made by Gina
Script by Gina & Bruce
Voice by Bruce
Music from One Marathon –Reverie Sound Revue
Pic from
玩樂之道PLAY&THINK
http...
Dongsha Atoll Natl. Park
東沙環礁國家公園
Made by Gina
Script by Gina & Bruce
Voice by Bruce
Music from One Marathon –Reverie Sound Revue
Pic from
玩樂之道PLAY&THINK
http://playxthink.blogspot.tw/2014/09/x-x.html?showComment=1437623468634#c986755778069317171
Sky Walker
http://blog.xuite.net/ci17518/skywalker/25424718-%E5%8F%B0%E7%81%A3+-+%E5%9C%8B%E5%A2%83%E4%B9%8B%E5%8D%97+%E6%9D%B1%E6%B2%99%E7%BE%A4%E5%B3%B6#message_header
The Basement Geographer
http://basementgeographer.com/the-pratas-islands/
Earth Snapshot
http://www.eosnap.com/?s=pratas
海洋國家公園管理處
http://marine.cpami.gov.tw/chinese/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=1
東沙巡禮2015年第2梯學員:俊甫、彥霖、子惠、信博
Dongsha Atoll Natl. Park
東沙環礁國家公園
Made by Gina
Script by Gina & Bruce
Voice by Bruce
Music from One Marathon –Reverie Sound Revue
Pic from
玩樂之道PLAY&THINK
http://playxthink.blogspot.tw/2014/09/x-x.html?showComment=1437623468634#c986755778069317171
Sky Walker
http://blog.xuite.net/ci17518/skywalker/25424718-%E5%8F%B0%E7%81%A3+-+%E5%9C%8B%E5%A2%83%E4%B9%8B%E5%8D%97+%E6%9D%B1%E6%B2%99%E7%BE%A4%E5%B3%B6#message_header
The Basement Geographer
http://basementgeographer.com/the-pratas-islands/
Earth Snapshot
http://www.eosnap.com/?s=pratas
海洋國家公園管理處
http://marine.cpami.gov.tw/chinese/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=1
東沙巡禮2015年第2梯學員:俊甫、彥霖、子惠、信博
Subscribe to BBC News www.youtube.com/bbcnews
There are several ongoing territorial disputes in the seas in East Asia. China and Taiwan are locked in disagreement about a small group of islands known as Dongsha. They're controlled by Taiwan.
Subscribe http://www.youtube.com/bbcnews
Check out our website: http://www.bbc.com/news
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bbcworldnews
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/bbcworld
Instagram: http://instagram.com/bbcnews
The 2nd Dongsha Open of Surfing(China) will kick off on Auguest 24-25 in Zhujiajian Island of Zhoushan. It's a grand event that bring together surfing lovers from Asian countries. As the Paris Oylmpic Games is still taking place, bring your families and kids and enjoy participants's passion for this mind-blowing sports event and their skill shows.
The Coast Guard was able to run a routine supply flight to the Taipei-controlled Dongsha Islands in the South China Sea on Monday. The successful trip came 11 days after a routine flight was denied access to the area by Hong Kong air traffic controllers, who cited "dangerous activities" in the airspace. The source of the activities remains unclear even after two weeks. According to a Hong Kong report, Chinese missile drills were taking place at the time. But Taiwan''s defense ministry says its tracking had turned up nothing unusual in the area.
With luggage in tow, Coast Guard personnel prepare to board. After a two-week delay, the Coast Guard’s UNI Air charter plane was able to depart for the Dongsha Islands Monday at 8:35 a.m.
The Coast Guard charters a service from UNI Air that leaves every Thursday from Kaohsiung International Airport. The service mainly transports Coast Guard personnel between Taiwan and the Dongsha Islands. Last Thursday, Oct. 22, the flight was canceled due to a tropical storm.
Lai Yu-chieh
Coast Guard Administration official
After assessing the weather conditions and the flight schedule, the plane was rescheduled for a departure today. With regard to adjustments to leave and vacation rights made after the flight change, the Coast Guard Administration’s Dongsha unit has already communicated them to the officers and soldiers.
Prior to the typhoon cancellation, the plane had departed for the Dongsha Islands right on schedule on Thursday, Oct. 15. As it approached Hong Kong’s Flight Information Region, the city’s air traffic controllers said “dangerous” activities were underway below an altitude of 26,000 feet. Refused entry, the UNI Air flight returned to Kaohsiung. On Thursday reporters asked if the Coast Guard had contacted Hong Kong authorities to resolve the incident. The CGA’s Dongsha unit said the question should be addressed to the Civil Aeronautics Administration.
Lai Yu-chieh
Coast Guard Administration official
We prepared for this flight in accordance with our instructions from UNI Air.
Taiwan’s defense ministry denies there were Chinese military exercises underway when the UNI Air flight was warned off. On Monday the supply plane successfully completed its flight to the Dongsha Islands. Another routine flight is slated to leave Thursday.
Dongsha Village (also known as Dongsha Fishing Village) is located at the southeast end of Kanmen Street of Donghai Fishing Town in Yuhuan Island, in ZheJiang Province,with an area of 0.22 square kilometers.
It is surrounded by the sea on three sides, where most villagers make their living by fishing.
Dongsha Village is adjacent to Nanpai Mountain, looking across the sea from Jishan Island, Dalu Island, Dongtou Island and other islands, and connecting with the Yingdong community by the mountains.
This month, the Coast Guard Administration hosted a group of university students on a tour of Dongsha Islands, part of Taiwan''s first maritime national park, which are located 450 km from Taiwan in the South China Sea. It was a special opportunity for students to experience the unique ecology of these remote islands, which are rarely opened to the public. A group of college students from schools all over Taiwan landed on the Dongsha Islands in the South China Sea for a tour of the local ecology.They helped to collect trash and various marine creatures which washed up on the beaches in an attempt to help return the islands'' environment to its previous pristine state.A maritime conservation zone on the islands allowed students to not only get a close up look at sea turtles recovering from injury, but also learn how to reconstruct coral reefs. Marine ConservationistYou put each piece of coral on a chopstick. When the ocean conditions are calmer, we''ll take them and put them on the seafloor.For these college students, the chance to witness the ecological diversity and immaculate seas surrounding the Dongsha Islands was an eye-opening experience like nothing they could learn from a textbook.
After eons of continuous building
Corals have formed a perfectly shaped
Brilliantly colored ring
In the South China Sea
Drifting organisms
are the atoll’s lifeblood
Fishes dart about
The soft corals gracefully sway
A richly layered 3-dimensional space
It’s the cornerstone nurturing the diversity of marine life
A sea grass bed covering 10,000 hectares
Forms the most distinctive habitat in the lagoon
Coral skeletons
Gradually accumulated
To form the thriving Dongsha Atoll of today
The seeds of some terrestrial plants
Sprouts grow and thrive here
Contributing to Dongsha Island’s lush greenery
These guests from afar
Frolicking on the sandbar adjoining the atoll lagoon
Dongsha Atoll
Is like the Eden of the South China Sea
The continuing stream of life
Inherit the desire to drift
They set their sights on places
Ever more distant
Dongsha Atoll Natl. Park
東沙環礁國家公園
Made by Gina
Script by Gina & Bruce
Voice by Bruce
Music from One Marathon –Reverie Sound Revue
Pic from
玩樂之道PLAY&THINK
http://playxthink.blogspot.tw/2014/09/x-x.html?showComment=1437623468634#c986755778069317171
Sky Walker
http://blog.xuite.net/ci17518/skywalker/25424718-%E5%8F%B0%E7%81%A3+-+%E5%9C%8B%E5%A2%83%E4%B9%8B%E5%8D%97+%E6%9D%B1%E6%B2%99%E7%BE%A4%E5%B3%B6#message_header
The Basement Geographer
http://basementgeographer.com/the-pratas-islands/
Earth Snapshot
http://www.eosnap.com/?s=pratas
海洋國家公園管理處
http://marine.cpami.gov.tw/chinese/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=1
東沙巡禮2015年第2梯學員:俊甫、彥霖、子惠、信博
The Pratas Islands, also known as the Dongsha Islands, are an atoll in the north of the South China Sea consisting of three islets about 340 kilometers (211mi) southeast of Hong Kong. Excluding their associated EEZ and territorial waters, the islets comprise about 240ha (590 acres), including 64ha (160 acres) of lagoon area. The People's Republic of China claims the islands, but the Republic of China (Taiwan) controls them and has declared them a national park. The main island of the group—Pratas Island—is the largest of the South China Sea Islands.
Name
The English name of the islands derives from the PortugueseIlhas das Pratas ("Silver Plate Islands"), which was given to the atoll in the 16th century owing to its round shape.
Dongsha is the pinyinromanization of the Chinese name Dōngshā Qúndǎo (t東沙群島, s东沙群岛), meaning "Eastern Sandy Archipelago". The name distinguishes it from Xisha, the western archipelago, better known as the Paracel Islands.
History
The Pratas Islands were first recorded by the Chinese over 1000 years ago in the book "Guangzhou Ji" (廣州記) written by Pei Yuan (裴淵) during the Jin Dynasty. Chinese fishermen fished in the sea around the Pratas by that time.