Triton Island:
Recent satellite imagery reveals a significant military buildup on Triton Island, the closest landmass in the disputed Paracels archipelago to Vietnam.
- Triton Island is a tiny island that’s part of the Paracel Islands chain located in the South China Sea.
- It covers a tiny area of about 1.2 square kilometers and is situated southwest of the main islands in the group.
- The island is approximately 4,000 feet long by 2,000 feet wide and, until recently, was completely uninhabited.
- The Paracel Islands are claimed by multiple countries, primarily China, Vietnam, and Taiwan, as part of their territorial waters, making the region politically sensitive.
- Although Triton Island is uninhabited, it plays a strategic role due to its location in the South China Sea, an area known for its rich fishing grounds and potential oil and gas reserves.
- South China Sea is an arm of the western Pacific Ocean that borders the Southeast Asian mainland.
- It is bordered by China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, and Vietnam.
