taiping dao lighthouse; stamp: taiwan, 2016

other names. Itu Aba Island Lighthouse, 太平島燈塔

what. stamp with lighthouse

where. Taiping Island (Itu Aba Island), Spratly Islands (Taiwan-administered)

issue information. 1 value of strip of 4 stamps, issued to commemorate the South China Sea Peace Initiative

remarks. The South China Sea Islands refer to the more than 250 islands, atolls, cays, shoals, reefs, and sandbars found there. Collectively, the total land area is about 15km2. There is no indigenous population. Ownership of the islands are disputed amongst a number of claimant states. The Spratly Islands are claimed, wholly or partially, by Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam; the Paracel Islands are disputed among China, Taiwan, and Vietnam; the Pratas Islands are disputed between China and Taiwan; and the rival claimants to Macclesfield Bank and Scarborough Shoal are China, the Philippines, and Taiwan. The lighthouse on the island featured is are administered by Taiwan.

note. Mandarin Chinese for lighthouse: 灯塔 (simplified script; dēngtǎ), 燈塔 (traditional script; dēngtǎ)