Triton Island

Triton Island is a Chinese administered island in the Paracel Islands group, South China Sea. It is 1.2km2 in size.The island was historically known as Bànlù Zhì or Luó Dǎo to Chinese fishermen. The current Chinese name of the island is named after the Republic of China Navy warship ROCS Chung-chien (中建號) sent in 1946 to claim the Paracel Islands. The island is administrated by the People's Republic of China, but is also claimed by the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Vietnam.HistoryLacking a native population, ownership of the Paracel Islands has been disputed since the early 20th century. In the aftermath of the First Indochina War until 1974 Vietnam occupied Pattle Island, approximately 50nmi away. Control has been enforced by the People's Republic of China since the Battle of the Paracel Islands.In 1973 the cargo ship USNS Sgt. Jack J. Pendleton was abandoned on the reef of Triton Island, having run aground there en route from Vietnam to the Philippines.Freedom of navigation manoeuvresOn January 30, 2016, the United States warship USS Curtis Wilbur passed within 12 nautical miles of the island. The Pentagon stated that they had notified none of the three claimants to the island beforehand, and claimed the reason for the transit was to protect freedom of navigation, "consistent with international law". The People's Republic of China called the voyage "provocative" and that it "violated relevant Chinese laws by entering Chinese territorial waters without prior permission". Three months previously, in October 2015, the USS Lassen sailed within 12 nautical miles of the manmade island at Subi Reef.