Dongsha Island (Pratas Island) Airport (DSX)

Dongsha Airport (RCLM) serves Pratas Island (Dongsha Island), a remote coral atoll located 444 kilometers from Kaohsiung and 850 kilometers southwest of Taipei in the South China Sea, operating as Taiwan's first marine national park established in January 2007. The airport features a single runway 11/29 and basic terminal facilities designed to support limited access operations, with Uni Air providing weekly Thursday flights from Kaohsiung exclusively for Coast Guard Administration staff, accommodating maximum 56 passengers and 500 kilograms of cargo due to no refueling facilities. The minimal terminal infrastructure reflects the island's dual role as a strategic military outpost and pristine marine research station, providing essential services for Taiwan's sovereignty operations and scientific research activities within the 353,667-hectare Dongsha Atoll National Park. The facility supports marine biodiversity research documenting over 250 coral species, 556 fish species, 168 plants, and 140 bird species, making this remote location one of Asia's most important coral reef ecosystems and a crucial genetic connectivity stepping-stone for South China Sea marine life. Operational considerations include strict access controls requiring official authorization, limited passenger capacity due to fuel constraints, and the airport's critical role supporting Taiwan's territorial claims while facilitating world-class marine conservation research. The facility serves as a lifeline for Coast Guard personnel, marine researchers, and park management staff protecting one of the region's most biodiverse coral reef systems in the strategically important South China Sea waters between Hong Kong and the Philippines.