The South China Sea is one of the most important areas for sea turtles in China. Taipin Tao is the largest island in the Nansha Archipelago and is a nesting site for green and, possibly hawksbill, turtles. Satellite telemetry studies from the year 2000 till 2003 demonstrated that the green turtles nesting at Taipin Tao are a shared natural resource among the nations in the southern South China Sea. Regional and international cooperation overseen by international organizations is desperately needed for the effective protection of the green turtles nesting at Taipin Tao.