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Coordinates: 10°22′30″N, 114°22′0″E

Itu Aba Island or Taiping Island (traditional Chinese: 太平島), is the largest of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. It is controlled and governed by Taiwan. The Spratly Island consists of seven reefs. The governments of the People's Republic of China, the Philippines and Vietnam also claim the island. The Vietnamese name for the island is đảo Ba Bình (Ba Bình Island), while in Filipino it is called Ligaw ('Lost'/'Wild') Island.

The islands are on the Spratly Archipelago near the Cheng Ho Reefs (Tizard Bank) near the centre of the South China Sea.

The name most commonly used in English, "Itu Aba", is Malay for "What's that?", although this is spelled itu apa in the modern orthography.

The island derives its Chinese name from the battle ship Taiping ('Peace') sent to recover the island after Japan's surrender at the end of World War II. An interesting fact about Itu Aba Island is that fishermen used to call the island "Huang-Shan Ma Zhi." On other western navigation maps, the island is named "Itu Aba Island" [1].

During World War II it was invaded by Japan and converted to a submarine base. Japan renounced its control in 1946 and turned over the island to China.

The island, along with the rest of the Spratlys, is disputed by four countries on historical, geographic or technical grounds, as well as due to fishing rights, shipping lanes, and the potential of petroleum and natural gas beneath the South China Sea.

Presently a detachment of Taiwan Coast Guard is stationed at this island, replacing a Taiwan Marine Corps detachment in 2000. Taiwan's Central Weather Bureau also has employee presence on the island. The total population of the island is about 100 with no civilians.

The government of the Republic of China planned to build an airstrip on the island. In 2005 Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a representative to Taiwan and requested the Republic of China to stop the construction. In early 2006 the Republic of China announced it would continue with its plans [2]. However, as of early 2007 Google Maps images show no such airstrip, though wide areas of clear sand are visible.

Although the are no long term inhabitants on the island, Itu Aba is administered under the Central municipality of Kaohsiung City by the Taiwan. Postal service is provided by Taiwan Post with under the assigned area code "819". 4 pay phones and internet connection are also available.

This island are organized as a district of Khanh Hoa Province by Vietnamese.

This Spratly Island is made up of:

• Swallow Atoll - a 0.1 square km islet

Flora and fauna include:

• Swallows
• Papaya plant
• Coast oak
• Terminalia trees
• Lotus leaf tung tree
• Goodeniaceae
• Sea lemon
• Long stem chrysanthemum
• Long-saddle rattan
• Gray grass
• Coconut tree
• Banana tree
• White-tailed Tropical Bird
• Sparrow hawk
• Tropical fish
• Jelly fish

• South China Sea
• South China Sea Islands
• Dongsha Islands or Pratas Islands
• List of islands of the Republic of China

• Satellite image of Itu Aba by Google Maps
• Putative States in the Spratly Archipelago
• Ecological Resources
• Itu Aba