Dongding Island Explained

Dongding Island
Native Name Lang:zh-tw
Nickname:-->
Location:In the Taiwan Strait, Jinhu Township, Kinmen County (Quemoy), Fujian, Republic of China (Taiwan)[1] [2] [3]
Area Km2:0.0160
Length M:-->
Width M:-->
Coastline M:-->
Country:Republic of China (Taiwan)
Country Admin Divisions Title:Province
Country Admin Divisions:Fujian
Country Admin Divisions Title 1:County
Country Admin Divisions 1:Kinmen (Quemoy)
Country Admin Divisions Title 2:Urban Township
Country Admin Divisions 2:Jinhu
Country Area M2:or
Country Area Ha:-->
Country 1 Area M2:or
Country 1 Area Ha:-->
Timezone1:National Standard Time
Utc Offset1:+8

Dongding Island[4] [5] is an 0.0160 square kilometer island in the Taiwan Strait in Jinhu Township, Kinmen County (Quemoy), Fujian Province, Republic of China (Taiwan). The island is the southernmost point of Kinmen County.[6] [7] [8] The island is near Longhai City, Zhangzhou, Fujian, China.

Name

Dongding Island has been known by a variety of names including: Dongding,[9] Tangtia,[10] Tungting Tao, Tungting Hsu, Chapel Island,[11] [12] Tung Ting Island,[13] Dong Ding,[14] Tung-Ting, Tung-ting-seu,[15] Tungting Island, Dongding Islet,[16] Dongdingdao,[17] Dongdingdao Island,[18] and Tung-ting Tao.

History

The island's mountains were sighted during the Ming treasure voyages on the evening of June 26, 1433.[19]

In January 1867, Sir Robert Hart, 1st Baronet wrote, "It is proposed to put a Light on Chapel Island, the sea mark for vessels bound to Amoy. This light will also be useful to casting vessels generally, as it will remind them of the proximity of the Meriope shoal."[20]

According to a plaque affixed to the lighthouse, the lighthouse was designed by David Marr Henderson (Chinese: 韓得善)[16] and built by A. M. Bisbee in 1871. The lighthouse is round and painted black.[21] The lighthouse was referred to as the Chapel Island Light.[22] In good weather, the light was expected to be visible from twenty-two miles away.[23] The lighthouse was renovated in 1913 and 1927.[24]

In September 1954, it was noted in top secret American intelligence documents declassified in August 2000 that Nationalist guerrillas from Quemoy had gone to Tungting Island.[25]

When an American journalist visited the island in the early 1950s, the Nationalists kept the light dark so that it would be difficult for ships to enter enemy ports. The lighthouse's color was white at that time. During this period, officers on duty on the island were ideally supposed to be rotated out every six months and guerrillas every two months with supply ship visits once a week. These periodic visits and changes were often delayed by weather and enemy activity. Fifty men were stationed on the island at that time under the command of Captain Chang Yi Ming. According to Captain Chang, attempted landings on the island by communist forces had been fended off by throwing grenades over the cliff.[26]

On August 24 and 25, 1958 during the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis, Chinese Communist and Chinese Nationalist forces clashed in the vicinity of the island. The action was seen as an attempt by the communists to land on the island.[27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] The action has also been seen as an attempt to draw Nationalist forces away from other areas.[33]

In September 1958, the island was included in an official statement on the delineation of the territorial waters of China.[34] [35] The lighthouse was repaired in 1964 after being damaged by artillery bombardment from the mainland.[12] [24]

In 1968, Chen Ching-Hu (Chinese: 陳慶虎), then 17, was given the job of lighthouse keeper on the island. Later, he would go back and forth between Dongding Island and Beiding Island maintaining the lighthouses at both places. He retired in 2016 at age 65 and lives on Kinmen Island.[36]

On September 8, 1978, a butchers group from Jinhu visited Dongding Island and Beiding Island to bring gifts to the soldiers there. They wished the soldiers a happy upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival.[37]

In March 1996, during the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis, Dongding Island was assessed as one of the targets of the CPLA's military harassment or seizure.[38]

In May 1996, Dongding Island was included as a basepoint in the Baselines of the Chinese territorial sea.

In 2005, after being completely off-limits to civilians for five decades, the island was to be transferred from military control to the administration of Kinmen County government.[39] On June 10, 2013, Pan Chia-Yu (Chinese: 潘家宇), the leader of the ROC Kinmen Defense Command, visited the soldiers on Dongding Island ahead of Dragon Boat Festival.[40]

On July 18, 2019, Ho Cheng (賀政), the new leader of the ROC Army Kinmen Defense Command (陸軍金門防衛指揮部), visited the soldiers on Dongding Island.[41]

On the night of May 24, 2020, Chinese sand mining ship Haishunda 069 (Chinese: 海順達069號) overturned and sank in or near the restricted waters south of Dongding Island.[42]

Geography

Dongding Island is about 13km (08miles) off the mainland coast and 25km (16miles) south-southwest of Kinmen.[12]

The island has been described as "a bare rock, miles from any land".[43] It is 55 meters high with steep cliffs. The top of the island is grassy. The south end of the island is linked to the rest of the island by a small strip of land. Nearby shipwrecks are unmarked and treacherous to navigation.[44]

There are no trees, and sheer cliffs surround the island. There were rabbits on the island in the early 1950s. A zig-zagging stairway leads from a small concrete jetty to the summit area. The island has machine gun nests and rifle pits. There is a courtyard next to the lighthouse and old light-keeper's house. There is a basketball court and there are buildings that were built for the soldiers.[26]

The Dongding Island Lighthouse is the westernmost lighthouse in Taiwan (ROC).[4]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: https://www.land.moi.gov.tw/ngis/chhtml/main.asp?area=WA01&type=byArea. zh:金門縣土地段名代碼表. Department of Land Administration. 2 March 2018. 10 August 2019. zh-tw. Chinese: 地政事務所名稱(代碼) 金門(WA) 鄉鎮市區名稱(代碼) 金湖鎮(01){....
  2. Web site: kinmen awareness. In addition to the main island, Kinmen covers another 12 islets, such as Dadan, Erdan, Dongding, Beiding, and the like. These islands are scattered around Kinmen proper like the stars surrounding the moon.. 15 June 2019. 8 December 2017. Kinmen County Government.
  3. Web site: https://land.kinmen.gov.tw/mobile/About/about_more?id=8fc4f649c0fe49d0a0d25bcc36a1ffba. 基隆市中正區公所. zh:轄區介紹. 12 June 2019. 23 June 2017. 服務轄區包括：金城鎮、金湖鎮、金沙鎮、金寧鄉、烈嶼鄉、烏坵鄉等六個鄉鎮，以及金門本島（大金門）、烈嶼（小金門）、大膽、二膽、獅嶼、猛虎嶼、草嶼、後嶼、東碇島、復興嶼等十二個大小島嶼，. zh-tw.
  4. Web site: Special Edition for the Celebration of the 2 Anniversary. Maritime and Port Bureau, MOTC. Dongding Island35 Dongding Island Lighthouse 1871 This is the farthest lighthouse to the west of the nation and located in a military control zone.. 78,79.
  5. http://motclaw.motc.gov.tw/wfrmDownload.aspx?ID=3209&type=soid. zh:澎湖地區離島通航航道公告圖. zh-tw. 14 April 2017. 9 February 2020. Chinese: 東碇島{....
  6. Web site: https://www.kinmen.gov.tw/News_Content2.aspx?n=98E3CA7358C89100&sms=BF7D6D478B935644&s=8DB0A0B65BBCC97B. zh:守護燈塔 照亮烏坵. 15 July 2017. 12 June 2019. zh-tw. Chinese: 目前臺灣地區所轄管之福建沿海燈塔者由北至南分別為馬祖之東引（東湧）燈塔、東莒（東犬）燈塔，金門的烏坵燈塔、北碇（北椗）島燈塔及東碇（東椗）島燈塔五座。{....
  7. Web site: https://ws.kinmen.gov.tw/Download.ashx?u=LzAwMS9VcGxvYWQvMzExL3JlbGZpbGUvMTAwMTAvNjIxNDEyLzFmN2MwNjc4LTRlNGMtNDNmNC04NWQzLWJlOTVhYWY4NTRkMC5wZGY%3D&n=MTLmnIjku73ntbHoqIjmnIjloLEucGRm. zh:金門縣統計月報 中華民國一Ο六年十二月份. Chinese: 金門縣政府主計處. 12 June 2019. Chinese: 極 南 東 碇 東 經 118 13 48 北 經 24 9 6{.... zh-tw. 5, 6.
  8. Web site: http://localdoc.ncl.edu.tw/tmld/browse_map.jsp?map=2400. zh:金門縣概況. zh-tw. 12 June 2019. Chinese: 極南為東碇，東經118度13秒8分，北緯24度9秒48分；. 1 October 2012.
  9. Web site: Kinmen Shueitou Harbor District. National Fire Agency, Ministry of the Interior. 14 July 2019. Kinmen is located in Xiamen Bay on the southeast of Fujian Province at the exit of Jiulong River; the area for the entire county is 150.145 square kilometers (134.25 square kilometers for the island itself, and 12 other islands including Shangxia Lieyu, Dadan, Erdan, Wuqiu, Dongyin, Dongding and Beiding etc.).
  10. Book: Britannica World Atlas International. 58. 1967. Tangtia.
  11. Book: Index to Map of China. 6. Chapel Island ... ... 朝坡島 ... Fukien ... ... 24.10N 118.12E. 1915. Far Eastern Geographical Establishment. 2. Shanghai.
  12. 8 October 2018. 12 June 2019.
  13. Web site: Associate-Tim-Bigelow . Journal of the North-China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society for the year: Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. North-China Branch . 2019-06-19.
  14. Web site: Geographic environment. https://web.archive.org/web/20181028081129/http://wwww.kmnp.gov.tw/en/KinmenHistory.aspx?cid=2&chk=58a82533-1717-449f-8c94-683ae1b51138. 28 October 2018. Kinmen National Park. 15 June 2019. Kinmen National Park. Territory The 12 islands and islets comprising Kinmen mainland, Lieyu (small Kinmen), Da Dan, Er Dan, Dong Ding, Beiding, Cao islet, Hou islet, Jiangong islet, Fuxing islet, Menghu islet, Shi islet occupy an area of 150 square meters in total.. 2014-06-11.
  15. Book: The India directory, or, Directions for sailing to and from the East Indies, China, Australia, and the interjacent ports of Africa and South America: comp. chiefly from original journals of the honorable company's ships, and from observations and remarks, resulting from the experience of twenty-one years in the navigation of those seas. 1841.
  16. Web site: The Lighthouses of Taiwan. 154–157.
  17. Web site: Declaration of the Government of the People's Republic of China on the baselines of the territorial sea . 15 May 1996 . UN . Law of the Sea (LOS) . Legislation and Treaties. 1.
  18. zh:金門縣行政區域圖. Kinmen County. zh-tw,en. September 2007. Ministry of the Interior and Kinmen County Government. 978-986-01-0742-5. Chinese: 東碇島
    Dongdingdao Island.
  19. Book: Mills, J. V. G. . Ying-yai Sheng-lan: 'The Overall Survey of the Ocean's Shores' [1433] . 1970 . Cambridge University Press . Cambridge . 0-521-01032-2 . 17–18.
  20. Book: Documents illustrative of the Origin, Development, and Activities of the Chinese Customs Service. Volume I: Inspector General's Circulars, 1861-1892. 206–207. 1937.
  21. Book: The China Sea directory. 1879.
  22. Book: Reports on Trade at the Treaty Ports. 1880. 120–121. Table 110.-LIST of CHINESE LIGHTHOUSES, LIGHT-VESSELS, BUOYS, and BEACONS, erected under the Foreign Inspectorate General of Customs, in the different Customs Districts. LIGHTS. 9 Amoy.........Chapel Island ........................ F. & Fl. Chapel Id Lt.
  23. Book: The China Sea directory: Comprising the coasts of China from Hong Kong to the Korea Vol. III. 1874. Hydrographic Off..
  24. Web site: http://wshnt.kuas.edu.tw/sundayasp2/g4/new_page_33.htm. zh:東椗島燈塔. 15 June 2019. zh-tw. Chinese: 民前四十一年〈一八七一年〉初設，嗣經民國二年及民國十六年之整修，塔身為圓形磚造，原裝一等石油燈因金門砲戰時損燬。.
  25. Book: Notes on NSC Meeting of 12 September 1954 held at Denver, Colorado. Mr. Dulles took the attached material to this meeting. 12 September 1954. guerrillas from Quemoy have also gone to Tungting island south of the Quemoys..
  26. Book: Still The Rice Grows Green. John C.Caldwell. 1955. 8-15. Internet Archive. Henry Regnery Company.
  27. Book: TAIWAN STRAITS. 27 August 1958. CIA. Nationalistsclaim to have driven off "invasion fleet" headed for Tungting Island..
  28. Book: The 1958 Taiwan Straits Crisis_ A Documented History. 1975.
  29. Book: DTIC ADA234362: Use of Naval Force in Crises: A Theory of Stratified Crisis Interaction. Volume 2. December 1988.
  30. Book: 1958 Awake. 8 October 1958.
  31. Web site: USE OF NAVAL FORCE IN CRISES: A THEORY OF STRATIFIED CRISIS INTERACTION. https://web.archive.org/web/20190407071806/https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a234362.pdf. live. April 7, 2019. 2. Joseph Frederick Bouchard. Joseph Bouchard. December 1988. 435. Defense Technical Information Center Online.
  32. News: REDS LOSE 2 JETS IN QUEMOY CLASH; SHELLING GOES ON. New York Times. 107. 36739. Red Landing Repulsed
    Earlier, the Defense Ministry
    declared the Chinese Reds had
    tried unsuccessfully Sunday
    night to land on tiny Tungting
    Island, eighteen miles southwest
    of Quemoy. A communiqué said
    Nationalist warships intercept-
    ed and drove off a Communist
    naval unit in a gun duel.. Internet Archive. 1. 26 August 1958.
  33. Web site: https://www.ettoday.net/news/20180822/1240861.htm. zh:八二三砲戰60週年（四）824海戰 東碇島曾開火. 22 August 2018.
  34. Web site: Maritime Claims Reference Manual. Internet Archive. 12 July 1990. PJ Battin. 2-103.
  35. Web site: Philippine Claims in the South China Sea: A Legal Analysis. August 2014. 17 May 2020. CNA. Mark E. Rosen. 26.
  36. Web site: https://www.cna.com.tw/topic/newstopic/996/201802160067.aspx. zh:守護燈塔近半世紀 陳慶虎回歸農家樂. 16 February 2018. Chinese: 孫承武.
  37. Web site: https://kinhu.kinmen.gov.tw/cp.aspx?n=21A753E0D82259F4. zh:五十七年~六十七年. 28 July 2017. 10 August 2019. Chinese: 金門縣金湖鎮公所 Jinhu Township Administration, Kinmen County. zh-tw. Chinese: 【民國六十二年】{....
  38. Book: Taiwan's Security in the Post-Deng Xiaoping Era. 2000 . Martin L. Lasater . Peter Kien-hong Yu . Kuang-ming Hsu . Robyn Lim . Frank Cass. 141. 0-7146-5083-8. Google Books.
  39. Web site: Kinmen seeks to develop six demilitarized islets. Taipei Times. 18 October 2004. the county government will only take over the jurisdiction of the six islets -- Tatan, Ertan, Tungting, Peiting, Shihyu and Menghuyu -- but will not be responsible for defending them. After the transfer of the six islets, probably on Jan. 1,the six islets have been purely military for more than five decades.The Tungting lighthouse was built in 1871. 14 June 2019.
  40. Web site: https://www.kmdn.gov.tw/1117/1271/1272/225062/. zh:潘家宇指揮官赴東碇勞軍. 11 June 2013. 17 May 2020. Chinese: 金門防衛指揮部指揮官潘家宇中將昨天到東碇島實施端節慰問，. zh-tw. Kinmen Daily News. Chang Chien-Teng Chinese: 張建騰.
  41. Web site: https://www.kmdn.gov.tw/1117/1271/1272/308505. zh:金防部指揮官走訪各離島探視官兵. 24 July 2019. 17 May 2020. Chinese: 接續於18日走訪東碇島，視導守備部隊戰備與生活情形後，金防部指揮官賀政中將，. zh-tw. Kinmen Daily News. Chen Li-Yu Chinese: 陳麗妤.
  42. News: https://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20200525001001-260402. https://web.archive.org/web/20200605202648/https://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20200525001001-260402. 5 June 2020. live. zh:金門東碇島南方陸抽砂船翻覆 10人落海遭救起. zh-tw. China Times. 25 May 2020. 4 October 2020. Tai Chih-Yang 戴志揚.
  43. Book: Epidemic of Continued Fever. 7. Patrick Manson, M.D.. 1880.
  44. Book: Prostar Sailing Directions 2004 Korea & China Enroute. 2004.

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