南海諸島——日本區域防衛與戰爭情報資訊網的前哨（1937-1945）

本文所要探究的要旨是，東沙、西沙、南沙群島這些如「沙」的島嶼，如何以其非常「有限」的面積，在戰爭期間承擔起特別的角色？研究斷限主要落在1937年以後，日本逐步占領東沙、西沙、南沙，以至第二次大戰結束的1945年為止。根據本研究的結果顯示，在太平洋戰爭前後期間，東沙、西沙、南沙等海南諸島對日軍的防衛安全角色，不在提供軍事基地、或港口停泊，而是藉由三者在南海海域所建置成的區域防衛資訊網絡，將氣象、軍情、飛航、海運、戰況等等資訊，透過無線電傳遞，使蕞爾小島能擔負起軍情前哨的重要角色。從日本揮軍南進，獲取東南亞西方列強屬地到太平洋戰爭爆發後，南海諸島在日本帝國圈的相對位置不斷移動，軍事情報資訊地位的重要性也隨著戰區轉移而有所變化。南海諸島在戰爭時期藉由「無線」電訊，可在戰場前緣即時傳遞情報資訊，確保日本的佈防線與資源輸送線，進而在海空交戰時作為戰略的參考、這是第二次世界大戰後期，南海諸島在日本帝國軍事上的特殊的地位。

This study aims to explore the unique roles of the islands in the Pratas, Paracel, and Spratly archipelagos, which, despite their 'limited' land areas, played a significant role during wartime. The research mainly focuses on the period following 1937, when Japan gradually occupied the Pratas, Paracel, and Spratly Islands, until the end of World War II in 1945. The results of this research indicate that, during and around the time of the Pacific War, the islands of Pratas, Paracel, and Spratly in the South China Sea played a crucial role in the defense strategy of the Japanese military. Rather than serving as military bases or harbor facilities, these islands formed a regional defense information network across the South China Sea. Through this network, they transmitted vital information such as weather conditions, military intelligence, aviation, maritime shipping, and combat situations via radio communication, thus enabling these small islands to serve as important outposts for military intelligence. From Japan's southward advance and acquisition of territories in Southeast Asia from Western powers, to the outbreak of the Pacific War, the strategic position of the South China Sea islands within the Empire of Japan continually shifted. The importance of military intelligence information also changed with the movement of the war zones. The South China Sea islands were able to transmit real-time intelligence information via wireless communication during the war, ensuring the security of Japan's defense lines and supply routes. This information also served as a strategic reference in naval and aerial combat, highlighting the unique military significance of these islands in the later stages of World War II.