About Triton Island:
- It 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.
Key Facts about South China Sea:
- It is an arm of the western Pacific Ocean that borders the Southeast Asian mainland.
- Boundaries: It is bordered by China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, and Vietnam.
- It is connected by the Taiwan Strait with the East China Sea and by the Luzon Strait with the Philippine Sea (both marginal seas of the Pacific Ocean).
- The South China Sea and the East China Sea together form the China Sea.
- The two major archipelagos are known as the Paracel Islands, controlled by China, and the Spratly Islands.
- Climate: Weather in the sea is tropical and largely controlled by monsoons.
