Airport type Military 07/25 1,200 3,937 Concrete | Location Taiping Island 1,200 3,937 | |
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Operator Republic of China Air Force | ||
Taiping Island Airport (Chinese: 太平島機場; pinyin: Tàipíng Dǎo Jīchǎng) is an airport on Taiping Island, located in the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea. The island, (named Itu Aba before 1946), is disputed territory and has been occupied by the Republic of China (Taiwan) since 1946.
The airport is managed by the Republic of China Air Force. It has a 1,200 metre long, 30 metre wide runway, with an aircraft apron in the east covering 7,800 square metres (1.9 acres) (0.78 hectares) that can park two C-130 transport aircraft, in addition to an apron on the west side covering 1,300 square metres (0.32 acres). The airport is the southernmost airbase under the de facto territorial control of Taiwan.
Background
In 2006, the government of the Republic of China revealed plans for constructing an airbase on Taiping Island, commissioned by the ROC Ministry of National Defense. Construction completed on 12 December 2007, and 2 February 2008, (then) ROC president Chen Shui-bian visited the airport, travelling via a C-130 transport plane.
Once every two months, a C-130 transport aircraft arrives from Taiwan island which provides personnel transportation and material supplies for the entire island. There are no other regular scheduled flights.