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In the blue waters of the South China Sea, there is an inconspicuous island that is quietly changing.
Although this island is not large, it has always been an inseparable part of the mainland territory, and for many years, PLA officers and soldiers have been stationed all year round, guarding this blue land with youth and sweat.
However, it is puzzling what is the reason for this strange phenomenon that the size of the island is decreasing year by year, despite the continuous presence of troops.
Zhongjian Island
In the blue waters of the South China Sea, there is an inconspicuous island standing quietly, and it is Zhongjian Island.
The island is located at the southernmost tip of the Paracel Islands, about 50 kilometers southwest of Wah Kwong Reef in the northeast and 178 kilometers from Woody Island, the main island of the Paracels.
Viewed from the air, Zhongjian Island is oval-shaped, like an emerald in the sea, and although its land area is only about 1.2 square kilometers, the surrounding reef extends to 7.5 square kilometers, forming a unique ecosystem.
The history of Zhongjian Island can be traced back a long time.
In the early days, local fishermen called it "Tulaitang Island, Luo Island", and these names reflect the natural features of the island, as well as the life experience of the fishermen.
Ceramics and copper coins from the Song and Yuan dynasties have been found on the island, witnessing the early activities of the Chinese in the South China Sea, and in 1946, the island ushered in a turning point in its fate.
The government of the Republic of China sent the warship "Zhongjian" to take over the Xisha Islands, and to commemorate this important event, the island was officially renamed "Zhongjian Island" the following year.
Despite its small size, the strategic value of Zhongjian Island should not be underestimated, as it is the southwest gateway of the Paracel Islands, the base point of China's territorial waters, and the only place to travel between Southeast Asia and the sea.
Zhongjian Island is about 400 kilometers away from Hainan Island in the north and only about 330 kilometers away from Viet Nam Yan Port in the west, making it an important strategic fulcrum in the South China Sea.
The waters around Zhongjian Island are rich and diverse, not only rich in fishery resources, but also rich in oil and gas reserves.
The Zhongjian Basin is regarded as one of the important bases for oil and natural gas energy that the mainland can provide in the future.
In addition, the perennial high temperature weather makes the solar energy resources here also very rich, far more than the mainland and other islands, but the disadvantage is that the natural environment on the island is very harsh.
The natural environment challenges of Zhongjian Island
The challenge of the natural environment of Zhongjian Island is a fascinating topic that showcases the power of nature and the resilience of human beings in the face of adversity.
This small island is known as the land of "four highs and two shortages", and its unique and difficult climatic conditions are characterized by high temperature, high humidity, high salt and high sunshine.
Imagine being here, where the ground temperature can soar above 60 degrees Celsius at noon in summer, as if you were in a giant steamer.
The garrisons on the island work in such an environment, and their training uniforms are often soaked and dry in ten minutes, dry and wet, and their faces and necks are tanned by the scorching sun.
The high humidity and salinity not only made it difficult to adapt, but also posed a huge challenge for the island's equipment and buildings.
Metal products are prone to rust, the lifespan of electronic devices is greatly shortened, and even buildings deteriorate faster due to long-term exposure to this environment.
The high sunshine puts additional pressure on the island's vegetation growth, many common plants struggle to survive here, and the island's ecosystem is extremely fragile.
The island's poor soil and lack of fresh water resources make it a huge challenge for vegetation growth.
Soil erosion is further exacerbated by a lack of vegetation cover, creating a vicious cycle, in addition to the island's limited biodiversity, poor ecosystem stability and vulnerability to external disturbances.
Worrying is the shrinking size of Zhongjian Island, a small island with an average elevation of only about two meters, which could flood much of the island under extreme weather conditions.
Waves, tides and storm surges continue to erode the edge of the island, causing the island to gradually shrink in size, with data showing that the island has plummeted from 1.5 square kilometers to about 1.2 square kilometers today.
At high tide, the island shrinks to just the size of two football fields, or 0.014 square kilometers, which is only one percent of the area at low tide.
In 2013, when Typhoon Butterfly swept through the South China Sea, Zhongjian Island was almost completely submerged in seawater, and this natural disaster made it clearer to realize the existential crisis facing Zhongjian Island.
The rise in sea levels brought about by global climate change is a wake-up call for this low-altitude island, and how are the guardians of Zhongjian Island coping with such severe natural environmental challenges?
Harmonious coexistence between man and nature
In the face of severe ecological challenges on Zhongjian Island, the Chinese people have shown amazing wisdom and perseverance, carried out a series of ecological restoration projects, and strived to achieve harmonious coexistence between man and nature.
The prelude to this transformation began with the planting of the first coconut tree in 1982, and planting coconut trees on Zhongjian Island was no easy task.
The officers and men on the island creatively adopted the "half bag of salt" planting method, first digging a pit, filling the soil, pouring in half a bag of salt, then putting in coconut seedlings, and finally watering with fresh water.
This unique method helped the coconut tree adapt to the high salinity and successfully take root in this barren land, and the survival of this first coconut tree undoubtedly gave everyone great confidence and hope.
Subsequently, the ecological restoration project on Zhongjian Island was in full swing, and officers and soldiers carried packets of organic fertilizer from the mainland to improve the soil on the island.
They chose more adaptable, salinity-tolerant plant species, such as certain palmaceae and tropical coastal plants.
By establishing windbreaks, they have reduced the damage to seedlings by strong winds and have used water-saving irrigation techniques such as drip irrigation to ensure that plants receive an adequate supply of water.
They also carried out the construction of an ecological fence to protect the newly planted vegetation from the direct impact of the waves, and after several generations of unremitting efforts, the greening of Zhongjian Island has been gratifying.
As of 2019, the green area of Zhongjian Island has reached 44%, and the former "Maritime Gobi" has become a vibrant "maritime oasis".
The greening work not only improves the ecological environment of the island, but also contributes to the biodiversity of the island.
Some birds and marine life have begun to move in these areas of abundant vegetation, forming a small ecosystem.
The officers and men even opened up cape fields and other vegetable fields on the island, planted vegetables, and raised chickens and ducks, which not only improved their own living conditions, but also added a touch of vitality to the island.
In the face of the shortage of freshwater resources, the island has adopted seawater desalination technology to effectively alleviate water pressure.
Technology helps build islands
Technology has played a crucial role in the development of Zhongjian Island, injecting modern vitality into this isolated island far from the mainland.
From the most basic needs of survival to sophisticated environmental monitoring systems, the ubiquity of technology has greatly improved living conditions and productivity on the island.
Infrastructure improvements were the cornerstone of the island's development, and at first, the island's residents and garrisons faced severe freshwater shortages and had to rely on regular supply vessels.
However, with the introduction of desalination technology, this problem has been effectively solved.
Modern desalination equipment, which converts seawater into drinkable fresh water, not only meets the needs of daily life, but also provides sufficient water for the cultivation of vegetation on the island.
The upgrading of communication facilities is another important development, the establishment of high-speed networks and satellite communication systems, breaking the information barrier between Zhongjian Island and the outside world.
Today, the island's officers and soldiers and scientific researchers can keep in touch with the mainland in real time, get the latest weather information, and participate in remote meetings.
This not only improves work efficiency, but also greatly improves the quality of life of the people on the island, and in 2023, an airport runway with a length of 610 meters and a width of 14 meters was built on Zhongjian Island.
This seemingly simple facility is actually a huge amount of engineering technology.
Considering the special geographical environment of the island, the runway is designed and built with advanced anti-corrosion, wind and wave resistance technology to ensure its safety and durability in harsh climates.
The completion of this runway has greatly improved the transportation convenience and strategic value of Zhongjian Island, and in terms of environmental monitoring, Zhongjian Island has established a comprehensive monitoring system.
The detected data not only provides a scientific basis for the daily management of the island, but also provides valuable information for the study of climate change and ecological evolution in the South China Sea.
In particular, it is worth mentioning that Zhongjian Island is actively exploring the use of renewable energy, thanks to its unique geographical location, Zhongjian Island has abundant solar and wind energy resources.
The installation of large solar panel arrays and wind turbines not only provides clean energy for the island, but also reduces dependence on fossil fuels and lowers carbon emissions.
In terms of ecological protection, Zhongjian Island aims to further increase the vegetation coverage and strive to increase the green area to more than 60% in the next few years.
At the same time, it is planned to introduce more plant varieties adapted to the local environment, increase biodiversity, and build a more stable and resilient ecosystem.
The future outlook of Zhongjian Island
As an important frontier station in the South China Sea, Zhongjian Island will continue to play a key role in the fields of marine ecology, climate change, and geological exploration.
In the future, more advanced scientific research facilities will be established on the island to attract more outstanding scientific researchers and provide scientific support for the sustainable development of the South China Sea.
Peaceful use is the core concept of the future development of China Construction Island, which is expected to become a platform for regional cooperation while safeguarding national security.
Through international research cooperation, environmental protection projects, and exploring the possibilities of ecotourism, Zhongjian Island can become a model for promoting regional peace and development.
The development process of Zhongjian Island has provided valuable inspiration for the country's maritime strategy.
The experience of China Jiandao can be applied to the development and protection of other islands, providing a practical basis for the mainland's maritime power strategy.
It proves that even in the most difficult circumstances, with a strong will and a scientific approach, it is possible to achieve harmonious coexistence between man and nature.