How Many Islands Does China Have: Revealing the "Stars" of the Ocean Country
As a major maritime country, China has vast territorial waters and numerous islands. These islands are not only an important part of the national territory, but also key areas for marine resource development and ecological protection. In recent years, with the advancement of China's maritime power strategy, the number and distribution of China's islands have become a hot topic of public concern. This article will combine the latest data to comprehensively analyze the current situation of China's islands.
1. Total number and distribution of islands in China
According to the "China Marine Statistical Yearbook" released by the Ministry of Natural Resources in 2023, China has a total of islands with an area greater than 500 square meters.7372, with a total area of approximately80,000 square kilometers. These islands are mainly distributed in the East China Sea, South China Sea and the Yellow and Bohai Seas. Zhejiang Province ranks first in the country with more than 2,800 islands.
| sea areas | Number of islands (number) | representative island |
|---|---|---|
| East China Sea | 3796 | Zhoushan Islands, Diaoyu Islands |
| South China Sea | 2673 | Yongxing Island, Huangyan Island |
| Huang Bohai | 903 | Changshan Islands, Miaodao Islands |
2. Island area classification statistics
The size of China's islands varies significantly, ranging from small islands of less than 1 square kilometer to large islands of more than 1,000 square kilometers. The following is the area classification data:
| area classification | Quantity (pieces) | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| ＞1000km² | 3 | 0.04% |
| 100-1000km² | 17 | 0.23% |
| 10-100km² | 142 | 1.93% |
| 1-10km² | 856 | 11.61% |
| <1km² | 6354 | 86.19% |
3. Development of key islands
In recent years, China has made significant progress in island development and protection:
1.Construction of Hainan Free Trade Port: Hainan Island, as China's second largest island, is building the world's largest free trade port. The number of newly registered companies in 2023 will increase by 42% year-on-year.
2.Infrastructure construction on Nansha Islands and Reefs: Fiery Cross Reef, Mischief Reef, etc. have been built into modern maritime cities equipped with airports, hospitals and other facilities.
3.Development of Zhoushan Islands New Area: In 2023, Zhoushan Port's cargo throughput will exceed 600 million tons, becoming the world's first "double-million-ton" archipelago port.
4. Achievements in Island Ecological Protection
China attaches great importance to island ecological and environmental protection:
| protection type | Quantity | Typical cases |
|---|---|---|
| national nature reserve | 38 | Snake Island Laotieshan Reserve |
| marine special protected area | 56 | Dongzhaigang Mangrove Reserve |
| Island ecological restoration project | 217 | Xiamen Gulangyu Island Restoration Project |
5. Updates on Island Sovereignty Maintenance
The latest data in 2023 shows that China has made new progress in safeguarding island sovereignty:
1.Diaoyu Islands regular cruise: Coast Guard vessels patrolled for 352 days throughout the year, a record high.
2.South China Sea Island Reef Monitoring System: Three new automatic weather stations and two ocean observation stations were built.
3.Foreign Island Research: Publish the English version of the "Standard List of China's Islands" to systematically introduce the situation of China's islands to the international community.
Conclusion
From the coast of the East China Sea to the reefs of the South China Sea, China's 7,372 islands are like bright stars, which together constitute the country's "blue land." With the rapid development of the marine economy and the increasing awareness of ecological protection, these islands will play an even more important role in safeguarding national sovereignty, promoting economic development, and protecting biodiversity. In the future, China will continue to scientifically plan the development and protection of islands to make these pearls on the sea shine even more dazzlingly.
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