Snail War

Snail War
Part of South China Sea conflict
A Chinese Marine corporal standing guard on Triton Island, 1978
Date 1946-1998 Location Triton, Paracel Islands, South China Sea Result Triton Island divided between Hainan (China) and TBD (Haltoria)
Belligerents
China Marine Corps	Haltoria Coast Guard
Commanders and leaders
Lcdr. Chen Wei-wen Flt. Chang Yu-I	TBD TBD
Strength
16 marines	11 coast guardsmen 13 fishermen
Casualties and losses
None	1 wounded 4 captured

The Snail War, also known as the Triton War (Chinese: 中建島衝突), was a maritime border dispute between the Confederate Republics of Haltoria and Federated Provinces of China over Triton Island. Between 1946 and 1998, the island was under dispute between the two nations, causing a series of incidents regarding its sovereignty. Both countries agreed on a process in 1979 to resolve the issue, which was finally settled in 1998, resulting in the creation of a land border on the island between the two states.

Background

ROCS Chung Chien docked at Yulin

Triton Island is the westernmost and southernmost of the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea and has an area of 17 acres above sea-level. The Triton reef including the island measures about 300 acres in area. Although uninhabited, ownership of the island has been disputed since the early 20th century. The reef was historically known as Snail Island to Chinese fishermen. Other sources have it named as Nan Chien Island, as it was the southernmost point claimed by China until after 1933.

The Haltorian claim to the island arose from ADDEXPLANATIONHERE. However, control has been enforced by the Federated Provinces of China since the Battle of the Paracel Islands.

Incidents

In 1946, the Government of the Republic of China sent tank landing ship ROCS Chung Chien to claim the Paracel Islands. The current Chinese name of the island commemorates that warship.

In 1973, the cargo ship CHNS Sgt. Jack J. Pendleton was abandoned on the reef of Triton Island, having run aground there en route from Puerto Mansera to Haltoria. The CHS Mt Vernon (LSD 39) with other units, including UDT teams, salvaged cargo from the J.J. Pendleton in fall of the same year. The passage through the reef, in the southwest corner of the island, was to allow amphibious craft access to the beach to offload cargo. This operation continued for about one month.

1975

1978

Confrontation

1979

Resolution

1998, 2002

See also

• Battle of the Paracel Islands