List of islands of Taiwan

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The islands comprising the Taiwan Area under the jurisdiction of the Republic of China (ROC) are classified into various island groups. The island of Taiwan, also known as Formosa, is the largest island and the main component of the ROC-controlled territories. Islands that are claimed by the ROC but not administered, including those under the control of the People's Republic of China, and those disputed with other countries such as Senkaku Islands and most of South China Sea Islands, are excluded from this list.

At the adoption of Additional Articles of the Constitution of the Republic of China in the 1990s, these islands collectively form the "Free area of the Republic of China" or known alternatively as "Taiwan Area", which legally defines the territorial extent under the actual control of the ROC government.

Some Taiwanese islands have various translations in English due to different systems of romanization in Chinese language in use, or derivation of differing linguistic origins from Mandarin, Hokkien, indigenous languages or other foreign languages. Some islands also have different names derived from particular historical periods which remain in use to this day.[1]

Archipelagos of Taiwan

There are in total of 168 islands, these islands can be classified into the following geographical units:

Name Chinese Mandarin
(Pinyin)
Taiwanese
(Pe̍h-ōe-jī)
Hakka
(Pha̍k-fa-sṳ)
Other name No. islands Major islands Division
Taiwan 臺灣 Táiwān Tâi-oân Thòi-vàn Formosa 22 Taiwan, Orchid, Green, Lamay, Guishan Multiple
Penghu 澎湖 Pénghú Phêⁿ-ô Phàng-fù Pescadores 90 Penghu, Xiyu, Baisha, Cimei, Wang'an Penghu County
Kinmen 金門 Jīnmén Kim-mn̂g Kîm-mùn Quemoy numerous Kinmen, Lieyu, Dadan, Erdan Kinmen County
Matsu 馬祖 Mǎzǔ Má-chó͘ Mâ-chú 36 Nangan, Beigan, Dongyin, Xiyin, Dongju, Xiju Lienchiang County
Wuqiu 烏坵 Wūqiū O͘-khiu Vû-hiu Ockseu 2 Daqiu, Xiaoqiu Kinmen County
Tungsha/Dongsha 東沙 Dōngshā Tang-soa Tûng-sâ Pratas 1 Pratas Island Kaohsiung Municipality
Nansha 南沙 Nánshā Lâm-soa Nàm-sâ Spratly 2 Taiping Island, Zhongzhou Reef Kaohsiung Municipality
There are four contemporary geopolitical definitions of the extent of "Taiwan":
  1. The state, a.k.a. the "Republic of China" (ROC), including all 168 islands administered by the ROC;
  2. The traditional Taiwan region (本島地區), excluding Kinmen, Matsu, and Wuqiu, which are traditionally parts of Fujian Province, and also excluding the ROC-controlled South China Sea Islands;
  3. The traditional region without Penghu, which is sometimes regarded as a separate region;
  4. The main island of Taiwan alone, excluding all of the nearby small islands.

Note: The Senkaku Islands, which are controlled by Japan, are disputed by the PRC (People's Republic of China) and the ROC as being a part of Taiwan (they are known as "Diaoyu" or "Diaoyutai" in Mandarin Chinese). Japan administers the Senkaku Islands as a part of the Ryukyu Islands.

List of major islands by area

List of Taiwanese islands with over 5 km2 of area.[2]

Order Name Chinese Taiwanese Hakka Geographical unit Administrative Division Area (km²)
1 Taiwan Main Island/ Formosa 臺灣本島 Tâi-oân pún-tó Thòi-vàn pún-tó Taiwan multiple 35,807.82
2 Kinmen Main Island 金門本島 Kim-mn̂g pún-tó Kîm-mùn pún-tó Kinmen 4 townships Kinmen 134.25
3 Penghu Main Island 澎湖本島 Phêⁿ-ô pún-tó Phàng-fù pún-tó Penghu Magong, Huxi Penghu 65.41
4 Orchid Island 蘭嶼 Lân-sū Làn-yí Taiwan Lanyu Taitung 46.82
5 Xiyu Island 西嶼 Sai-sū Sî-yí Penghu Xiyu Penghu 17.84
Waisanding Shoal 外傘頂洲 Gōa-sòaⁿ-téng-chiu Ngoi-san táng-chû Taiwan Kouhu Yunlin 17.22
6 Green Island 綠島 Le̍k-tó Liu̍k-tó Taiwan Lüdao Taitung 15.09
7 Lesser Kinmen Island (Lieyu) 小金門島 Sió-kim-mn̂g-tó Séu-kîm-mùn-tó Kinmen Lieyu Kinmen 14.85
8 Baisha Island 白沙島 Pe̍h-soa-tó Pha̍k-sâ-tó Penghu Baisha Penghu 13.88
9 Nangan Island (Matsu) 南竿島 Lâm-kan-tó Nàm-kôn-tó Matsu Nangan Lienchiang 10.43
10 Cimei/Qimei Island 七美嶼 Chhit-bí-tó Chhit-mî-yí Penghu Cimei Penghu 7.59
11 Lamay Island 琉球嶼 Liû-khiû-sū Liù-khiù-yí Taiwan Liuqiu Pingtung 6.80
12 Wang'an Island 望安島 Bāng-oaⁿ-tó Mong-ôn-tó Penghu Wang'an Penghu 6.74
13 Beigan Island 北竿島 Pak-kan-tó Pet-kôn-tó Matsu Beigan Lienchiang 6.44

List of islands by geographical unit

Taiwan proper

Location map of outlying islands governed by Taiwan
Penghu Islands

Penghu/Pescadores

Kinmen/Quemoy

Kinmen County

[6][7][8][9][10]

Matsu Islands

[28][29][30]

Lienchiang County (Matsu Islands)

Wuqiu/Ockseu

[34]

  • Wuqiu (Ockseu, Wuchiu, Wuciou; 烏坵)
    • Daqiu (Tachiu, Taciou; 大坵)
    • Xiaoqiu (Hsiaochiu; 小坵)

South China Sea Islands

Map of various countries occupying the Spratly Islands
  • South China Sea Islands (南海諸島) (Administration under Cijin District, Kaohsiung Municipality; only the following islands listed below are controlled by the ROC)

Disputed islands

The highly controversial sovereignty disputes over both the Japan-controlled Senkaku Islands and the South China Sea Islands (which are disputed and controlled by several countries) are complex with the disputed status of both Taiwan (the territories outlined in the 1951 Treaty of San Francisco) and the Republic of China (ROC) which controls Taiwan. As the ROC and the People's Republic of China (PRC) still compete their de jure claim as the sole legitimate government of the entire China, they effectively lay claim to the same extent of islands, including the South China Sea Islands and the Senkaku Islands, among others.[35] This makes these disputes multi-layered and therefore virtually impossible to solve by following the guidelines of international law.

The ROC maintains its historical claims to all of the South China Sea Islands.[36][37] They are also claimed by five other claimants, namely the PRC, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei. The islands within the Pratas and Spratly Islands which remain under the control of the ROC are assigned to Cijin District, Kaohsiung City, thus technically defining these islands to be part of the "Taiwan Area". The United Nations considers the South China Sea to be "international waters" and does not acknowledge any of the South China Sea Islands as "true islands". The acknowledgement of these islands as "true islands" is crucial because the definition of "islands" would justify the creation of an exclusive economic zone around them, which can be used to cut off international shipping lanes and to acquire natural resources such as oil which lie beneath the ocean.

Meanwhile, the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands[38] are claimed by the ROC as "Diaoyutai Islands" within Toucheng Township, Yilan County[39] and are considered to be part of geographic and provincial Taiwan by the ROC. The Senkaku Islands lie about 186 kilometres from the northeast of Taiwan Island, and situated roughly 330 kilometres from the east of mainland China. They form the westernmost extremity of the "Ryukyu Islands", which Japan administers as Okinawa Prefecture. The PRC also claims the Senkaku Islands as "Diaoyu Islands" as part of its claimed "Taiwan Province".

The PRC claims the islands of Taiwan and Penghu as part of its 23rd Taiwan Province, together with the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands (claimed as "Diaoyudao Islands"), which are also claimed by the ROC as part of its own Taiwan Province. The PRC claims Kinmen (Quemoy) as a county of the prefecture-level city Quanzhou, in Fujian Province. Matsu is claimed as part of Lianjiang County, part of Fuzhou, in Fujian Province. The Wuqiu islands are claimed as part of Xiuyu District, a district of the prefecture-level city Putian, in Fujian Province. Pratas Island is claimed as part of Chengqu in Shanwei (Swabue) Guangdong Province. The Nansha Islands controlled by the ROC, i.e. Taiping Island and Zhongzhou Reef, are claimed as part of Sansha, in Hainan Province. The PRC thus claims the ROC-controlled islands as part of its own Taiwan Province (Taiwan and Penghu), Fujian Province (Kinmen, Matsu and Wuqiu), Guangdong Province (Dongsha) and Hainan Province (Nansha).

See also

References

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  2. ^ 05-19 臺灣島嶼面積 [Location and Area of Islands in Taiwan]. Ministry of the Interior (in Chinese (Taiwan) and English). Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  3. ^ 記者盧賢秀,"北方三島小檔案""存档副本". Archived from the original on 2010-09-01. Retrieved 2010-08-30. 島嶼的最東端是台灣極東點,, Liberty Times,2010-8-30.
  4. ^ "PENGHU From island to island" (PDF). Penghu County Government. 2010s. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  5. ^ 澎湖的島嶼. 澎湖國家風景區管理處 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Retrieved 2 November 2019.
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  8. ^ 金門地區限制(禁止)水域圖 (PDF) (Map) (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Mainland Affairs Council. n.d. Retrieved 9 August 2019. 二.限制水域範圍:大金門地區低潮線向外延伸東方海面四千至六千公尺,南方海面八千至一萬公尺,北碇以東海面四千公 尺,大、二膽南海面二千公尺一線以內海域 三、禁止水域範圍:大金門地區低潮線向外延伸東方海面四千公尺,南方海面八千公尺,馬山北方一千五百公尺,北碇以東 海面四千公尺,大、二膽北、西、南海面二千公尺,小金門西海面、檳榔嶼、三腳礁、牛心礁、赤角礁一線以內海域
  9. ^ 辞海第六版. Cihai (Sixth Edition) (in Chinese). 上海. Shanghai: 上海辞书出版社. Shanghai Lexicographical Publishing House. September 2009. p. 1124. ISBN 9787532628599. 金门 县名。在福建省东南海上、泉州市西南部。现由台湾省管辖。由以金门岛为主的大、小59个岛屿组成。面积149平方千米,人口约6.45万(2004年)。明置金门千户所,清设金门县丞,属同安县。1913年改隶思明县,1914年析置金门县。1928年直属福建省。农产有甘薯、花生等。矿产有玻璃砂、高岭土、铝土、煤。工业有机械、食品等。特产贡糖、高粱酒、金门马等。通公路。名胜古迹有成功洞、鲁王墓、水尾塔等。{...}金门岛 亦称"大金门岛"、"吾洲屿"。在福建省东南部、厦门港口外台湾海峡中。属金门县,现由台湾省管辖。岛形如哑铃,东西宽,南北狭,中多丘陵,沿海多港湾、口岸。东西长约20千米,面积131.7平方千米。其西有小金门岛。名胜古迹有牧马侯(陈渊)祠、鲁王墓、海印寺、古岗湖、中山纪念林等。
  10. ^ "Geographic environment". Kinmen National Park. Archived from the original on 28 October 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2019. 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.
  11. ^ Mu Yu (Approved - N) at GEOnet Names Server, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
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    Dabo Reef 大撥{...}Siaobo Reef 小撥{...}Baiyan Island 白巖
    {...}
    [reverse, column 2]
    名稱(Name) 英文(English) 索引(Index)
    {...}
    白巖 Baiyan Island O1

    (Note: The County/City Boundary (縣(市)界) as shown in this map includes Dabo Reef, Siaobo Reef and Baiyan Island within Kinmen County.)
  13. ^ Dongge (Approved - N) at GEOnet Names Server, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
  14. ^ Guan’ao Jiao (Approved - N) at GEOnet Names Server, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
  15. ^ Xiyuan Yu (Approved - N) at GEOnet Names Server, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
  16. ^ Gou Yu (Approved - N) at GEOnet Names Server, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
  17. ^ Hei Yan (Approved - N) at GEOnet Names Server, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
  18. ^ Dayan Yu (Approved - N) at GEOnet Names Server, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
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  21. ^ Yan Yu (Approved - N) at GEOnet Names Server, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
  22. ^ Xiaodan (Approved - N) at GEOnet Names Server, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
  23. ^ Menkou Jiao (Approved - N) at GEOnet Names Server, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
  24. ^ Tu Yu (Approved - N) at GEOnet Names Server, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
  25. ^ Sandan (Approved - N) at GEOnet Names Server, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
  26. ^ Sidan (Approved - N) at GEOnet Names Server, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
  27. ^ Wudan (Approved - N) at GEOnet Names Server, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
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  29. ^ 馬祖地區離島通航航道公告圖 (Map) (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 14 April 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2020. 東引島 Dongyin Island{...}亮島 Liangdao{...}蚌礁島{...}高登島 Gaodeng Island{...}高登石{...}鐵尖島{...}北高礁{...}西引岩{...}小坵{...}大坵{...}峭頭{...}三連嶼 Sanlian Islet{...}長岐島 Zhangqi Island{...}蚌山{...}進嶼{...}蛤蜊島{...}鵲石{...}馬祖列島 Matzu Islands{...}西石{...}黃官嶼{...}南引{...}馬祖島 Matzu Island{...}鞋礁{...}雷石{...}北泉礁島{...}高間礁{...}劉泉礁{...}細皮石{...}大嶼{...}小嶼{...}永留嶼{...}西莒島 Xiju Island{...}東莒島 Dongju Island{...}莒光列島 Juguang Islands{...}林投嶼{...}
  30. ^ 連江縣行政區域圖 [Lienchiang County] (Map) (in Chinese (Taiwan) and English). Ministry of the Interior, Lienchiang County Government. August 2007. ISBN 978-986010698-5. 亮島 Liangdao Island
  31. ^ 連江縣土地段名代碼表 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Department of Land Administration. 16 May 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2019. 地政事務所名稱(代碼) 連江(ZA) 鄉鎮市區名稱(代碼) 北竿鄉(02) 段 小段 代碼 備註{...}大坵 0020 無名島 0021 高登 0022 峭頭 0023 進嶼 0024 亮島 0035 調整 浪岩 0036 調整 三連嶼 0039 中島 0040 調整 白廟 0041 調整 老鼠 0042 調整
  32. ^ 連江縣土地段名代碼表 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). Department of Land Administration. 16 May 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2019. 地政事務所名稱(代碼) 連江(ZA) 鄉鎮市區名稱(代碼) 南竿鄉(01) 段 小段 代碼 備註{...}黃官嶼 0010 劉泉礁 0011 鞋礁 0012
  33. ^ Dongsha Dao (Approved - N) at GEOnet Names Server, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
  34. ^ 澎湖地區離島通航航道公告圖 (Map) (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 14 April 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2020. 烏坵嶼 Wuqiu Islet{...}小坵嶼
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  38. ^ "Situation of the Senkaku Islands". 2014-04-04.
  39. ^ "ROC government reaffirms sovereignty over Diaoyutai Islands". 2015-07-24.