Triton Island, Zhongjian Dao, China, Paracel Islands
Updated August 29, 2024
Triton Island, Zhongjian Island, is developed, maintained and operated by China. It is under construction and getting larger.
It is called Triton Island, or Zhongjian Dao in Chinese and Dao Tri Ton in Vietnamese, and is administered by PRC.
Triton island is at the southwest corner of the Paracel islands, south of the Crescent Group. It is 160 miles east of Quang Ngai, Vietnam, and 156.3 miles from Binh Chau, Vietnam. Location: 15°47'19"N 111°11'35"E. It is being reclaimed and has grown at least 5x in size, maybe larger. Triton Island is 1.14 miles in diameter, atop an atoll / reef structure that stretches 2.43 miles along the same heading. This island can more than double in diameter.
Google Earth has new satellite imagery dated 11/7/2023 which shows continued island development.
There is a small core settlement on the island with tall, important looking buildings, the small pier and quay, and mature trees and grass. It is a densely populated space. The rest of the island is new sand with significant construction underway. We see the very tall structures (four of them) with radomes / round equipment on top, a very tall building, structures that look like base housing, and an athletic field. There is a helipad. Location: 15°46'57"N 111°11’52"E.
These appear to be early days for this island's development. We see four land reclamation points at the southern end.
Location: 15°46'58"N 111°12'21"
Triton Island, Zhongjian Island, is developed, maintained and operated by China. It is under construction and getting larger.
It is called Triton Island, or Zhongjian Dao in Chinese and Dao Tri Ton in Vietnamese, and is administered by PRC.
Triton island is at the southwest corner of the Paracel islands, south of the Crescent Group. It is 160 miles east of Quang Ngai, Vietnam, and 156.3 miles from Binh Chau, Vietnam. Location: 15°47'19"N 111°11'35"E. It is being reclaimed and has grown at least 5x in size, maybe larger. Triton Island is 1.14 miles in diameter, atop an atoll / reef structure that stretches 2.43 miles along the same heading. This island can more than double in diameter.
Google Earth has new satellite imagery dated 11/7/2023 which shows continued island development.
There is a small core settlement on the island with tall, important looking buildings, the small pier and quay, and mature trees and grass. It is a densely populated space. The rest of the island is new sand with significant construction underway. We see the very tall structures (four of them) with radomes / round equipment on top, a very tall building, structures that look like base housing, and an athletic field. There is a helipad. Location: 15°46'57"N 111°11’52"E.
- We notice a white wall around the central compound of the island, and the tall building is outside the walls.
- There are possibly guard stations and openings for roads. Walls are not commonly found in the South China Sea.
- It has a small quay for ships and a thin channel cut through the coral for island boat access.
- We see significant building, and can make out trucks at work. We see the rectangles of lands in the sand, with two significant elevated square buildings under development, possibly radomes, to join the three radomes and one tower already present.
- We see a significant octagonal building foundation.
- We see the outline of rectangles of development (land being outlined / fenced).
- We can still see the two flags from space and the message. One is the flag of the Chinese Communist Party. One is the flag of the People's Republic of China. Their insignia are in gold, with a phrase atop the flags, still visible from satellite imagery. The phrase reads: "Long live the Party's glory and glory for the motherland." I wish I had not seen that.
These appear to be early days for this island's development. We see four land reclamation points at the southern end.
Location: 15°46'58"N 111°12'21"
Triton Island, 11/7/2023, Google Earth, Camera 2,947m, -18 cm. Full view, North is up.
Triton Island, 11/7/2023, Google Earth, zoomed in. Camera: 2,629 m, -18cm, 200m
Facing South
Original Satellite Imagery from 12/12/2020
In more recent imagery from a South China Morning Post article, we see a bit more reclamation and the outlines of a runway.
Area
Name 1
Nearest Land
Distance from Land (miles)
Location (latitude & longitude)
Diameter (miles)
Date of Satellite Imagery
Airport Present?
Helipad Present?
Port / Dock Facility Present?
Buildings Present?
Defensive Infrastructure Present?
Athletic Facilities Present?
Hospital Present?
Sand Only Island?
Dredging Infrastructure Only?
Paracel Islands
South West Reef
Vietnam
160
15°47'19"N 111°11'35"E
1.2
12/12/2020
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Not Sure
Yes
Not Sure
No
No
Name 1
Nearest Land
Distance from Land (miles)
Location (latitude & longitude)
Diameter (miles)
Date of Satellite Imagery
Airport Present?
Helipad Present?
Port / Dock Facility Present?
Buildings Present?
Defensive Infrastructure Present?
Athletic Facilities Present?
Hospital Present?
Sand Only Island?
Dredging Infrastructure Only?
Paracel Islands
South West Reef
Vietnam
160
15°47'19"N 111°11'35"E
1.2
12/12/2020
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Not Sure
Yes
Not Sure
No
No