Category Archives: Territorial Claims

List of Sources and Links

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Interactive Map – Bibliography

 

CDXC 9MOC, Spratly 1998. January 17, 2000.
http://members.aol.com/spratly98/picgal.html

Havely, Joe. “Analysis: Flashpoint Spratly.” February 14, 1999. BBC News Online: January 18, 2000.
http://news.bbc.co.uk

“Heritage Foundation Special Report: China’s Expansion in the Spratly Islands.” Ed. Richard D. Fisher. The Heritage Foundation. January 20, 2000.
http://www.heritage.org/asiaoffice/spratly/

Itu Aba Island, a Taiwan claim bed / Spratly Islands / one of the Tizard Bank Islands. Ed. Wolfgang Schippke. January 20, 2000.
http://www.425dxn.org/dc3mf/ituaba.html

Picture Gallery of the Spratlys. University of California, Berkely. January 19, 2000.
http://faculty.law.ubc.ca/scs/gallery.html

Ricardson, Michael. “A Nervous ASEAN Will Approach China Over Expansion in Spratlys.” International Herald Tribune: January 17, 2000.
http://www.iht.com/IHT/MR/98/mr121498.html

“Calculating China’s Advances in the South China Sea Identifying Triggers of “Expansion.” Spring 1998. January 18, 2000.
http://www.nwc.navy.mil/press/Review/1998/spring/art5-sp8.html

Valencia, Mark J., Van Dyke, Jon M. & Ludwig, Noel A., Sharing the Resources of the South China Sea. Hawaii : University of Hawaii Press, c1999.

Digital Gazetteer of the Spratly Islands

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This list includes the names of all Spratly features known to be occupied and/or above water at low tide.

Name

Location

Description

Occupier
Alicia Annie Reef

Da Suoi Ngoc (V)

Xian’e Jiao (C)

Arellano (P)

 9°25’N

115°26’E

 A sand “cay”, 1.2 m high.  Many rocks above high tide line [9, 16, 18].  Reef encloses a lagoon. None

[7]
Alison Reef

Da (or Bai) Toc Tan (V)

Liumen Jiao (C)

 8°51’N

114°00’E

 Naturally above water only at low tide [18].  Encloses a lagoon. Vietnam

 no date

[1, 3, 7, 20]
Amboyna Cay

Dao An Bang (V)

Anbo  Shazhou (C)

Kalantiyaw (P)

Pulau Amboyna Kecil (M)

 7°51’N

112°55’E

 1.6 ha. 2 m high.  Two parts:  East part consists of sand and coral, west part is covered with guano.  Has fringing reef.  An obelisk, about 2.7 m high, stands on the SW corner.  Little vegetation.  Lighthouse operational since May 1995.  Heavily fortified [8, 16, 18; Japan Times, 5/29/95), p. 3]. Vietnam

1975 or 1978

[1, 3, 7, 15, 20];

1979 [8]
Ardasier Reef

Bai Kieu Ngua (V)

Andu Tan (C), Xibo Jiao (T)

Terumbu Ubi (M)

 7°38’N

113°56’E

 Naturally above water only at low tide.  Encloses a lagoon.  Has a few sandy patches [18].  Malaysia presently has 20 soldiers stationed here [7]. Malaysia

1986

[1, 3, 7, 8]
Baker Reef

Gongzhen Jiao (C)

 10°43.5’N

116°10’E

 Awash at low tide [18]. None
Ban Than Jiao (C)

(Part of Tizard Banks)

 10°24’N

114°24’E

 Small drying reef halfway between Taiwan-occupied Itu Aba and Vietnam-occupied Sand Cay.  “Construction project” underway in spring 1995 [FBIS-EAS-95-065, 4/5/95, p. 41]. Taiwan

March ’95

[FBIS]
Barque Canada Reef

Bai Thuyen Chai (V)

Bai Jiao, Liwei Dao (C)

Terumbu Perahu (M)

Mascado (P)

 8°10’N

113°18’E

 Coral.  Highest rocks are 4.5 m high, at SW end.  Much of reef is above water at high tide.  Some sandy patches.  18 miles long.  Its military structures were recently upgraded [9], [16] (which gives height as 4.5 m), [18]; [20] and [Asiaweek, 7/17/92, p. 22] say Malaysia occupies. Vietnam

1987

[1, l7, 14]

(Malaysia, 1988 [20])
Bombay Castle See Rifleman Bank.
Bombay Shoal

Pengbo Bao (Ansha) (C)

 9°26’N

116°55’E

 Several rocks are exposed at low tide.  Surrounds a lagoon [18]. None
Boxall Reef

Niuchelun Jiao (C)

 9°36’N

112°24’E

 Above water only at low tide.  No lagoon [18]. None
Central Reef

(Part of London Reefs)

Dao Truong Sa Dong (V)

Zhong Jiao (C)

 8°55’N

116°11’E

 SW part is a sandbank which barely submerges at high tide.  The rest is coral reef, awash, surrounding a lagoon [9, 18]. Vietnam

1978

[3, 7, 11, 20]
Collins Reef

(Part of Union Banks)

Da Co Lin, Bai Vung May (V)

Guihan Jiao (C)

 9°45’N

114°14’E

 Also known as Johnson North Reef, as it is connected to Johnson South Reef.  A “coral dune” is located at the southeast corner, above the high tide line [9]. Vietnam

no date

[1, 3, 7, 20]
Commodore Reef

Da Cong Do (V)

Siling Jiao (C)

Terumbu Laksamana (M)

Rizal (P)

 8°21’N

115°17’E

 A sand “cay”, 0.5 m high, surrounded by two lagoons.  Parts of reef above water at high tide [9, 18].  Some structures [7, 16]. Philippines

1978

[1, 3, 20]; [7]

says deserted since 1986
Cornwallis South Reef

Da Nui Le (V)

Nanhua Jiao (C)

 8°44’N

114°11’E

 Naturally above water only at low tide.  Encloses a lagoon [18].  [3] claims that Malaysia has one officer and eight soldiers stationed here. Vietnam

1988

[1, 18, 20]
Cuarteron Reef

(Part of London Reefs)

Bai Chau Vien (V)

Huayang Jiao (C)

 8°53’N

112°51’E

 Coral rocks only.  highest are 1.5 m high, on the north.  No lagoon [9, 18].  [13] calls this Guarteron Reef. PRC

1988

[1, 3, 7, 8]
Da Ba Dao (V) See Whitson Reef.
Dallas Reef

Da Da Lat (V) (?)

Guangxing Jiao (C)

Terumbu Laya (M)

 7°38’N

113°48’E

 Naturally above water only at low tide.  Encloses a lagoon [18].  One officer and eight soldiers stationed here in 1988 [3]; [Asiaweek, 5/20/88].  Malaysia is also using this reef for tourism [FEER, 9/12/92, p. 14). Malaysia

1987

[7, 20]
Discovery Great Reef

Da Lon (V)

Daxian Dao (C); Paredes (P)

 9°59’N

113°51’E

 Several rocks are above water at high tide.  Most of reef is above water at low tide.  Has lagoon [9, 18]. Vietnam

1988

[1, 3, 7, 20]
Discovery Small Reef

Da Nho (V)

Xiaoxian Jiao (C)

 10°01’N

114°02’E

 Above water only at low tide [18].  [3] states that Vietnam occupies this reef, but no other author supports his claim. None?

[7]
East Reef

(Part of London Reefs)

Da Dong.  Con Dong (V)

Dong Jiao (C)

Silangan (P)

 8°52’N

112°46’E

 Rocks up to 1 m high.  Encloses a lagoon [9, 16, 18]. Vietnam

1988

[3, 7, 20]
Eldad Reef

(Part of Tizard Banks)

Anda Jiao (C)

Beting Burgai (P)

 10°21’N

114°42’E

 Only a few large rocks are naturally above water at high tide [9, 18].  [FEER, 8/13/92] claims that this reef is occupied by PRC.  [7] gives Guihan Jiao as the Chinese name, but [19] and [13] grant this name to Collins Reef. Vietnam?

Between

1978 & 1983

[3, 7, 13]
Erica Reef

Boji Jiao (C)

Terumbu Siput (M)

 8°07’N

114°10’E

 [18] says reef is above water only at low tide, but [9] claims that “some isolated rocks on the eastern edge might stand above high water.”  Encloses a lagoon [18]. None

[7]
Fiery Cross Reef(s)

(Also called Northwest Investigator Reef)

Da Chu Thap (V)

Yungshu Jiao (C)

Ka(gi)lingan (P)

 9°37’N

112°58’E

 Rocks up to 1 m high [18]; [5] says all below high tide, but guano deposits disagree.  PRC built a navy harbor by blasting, piling up and cementing coral, but says no soldiers stationed here.  8,080 square meters, 14 miles long, with airstrip.  “Marine observation station” built in 1988; coconut, fir, and banyan trees plantes as well [1, 5, 9].  Actually 3 reefs. PRC

1988

[1, 3, 4, 7, 8]
First Thomas Shoal

Bai Suoi Nga (V)

Xinyi Ansha,  Xinyi Jiao (C)

 9°20’N

115°57’E

 A few rocks are permanently above sea level.  Much of the reef is above water at low tide.  Encloses a lagoon [18]. None

[7]
Flat Island

Dao Binh Nguyen (V)

Feixin Dao, Antang Dao (C)

Patag (P)

 10°50’N

115°49’E

 A low, flat, sandy cay, 240 by 90 m, subject to erosion.  Has a nearby reef which is above water at high tide [16, 18].  [12] claims that area is only 0.75 acres and elevation is less than 5 m, with large guano deposits.  No vegetation [9]. Philippines

no date

[1, 3, 7, 12, 20]
Gaven Reefs

(Part of Tizard Banks)

Da Ga Ven (V)

Nanxun Jiao (C)    (Northern reef)

Xinan or Duolu Jiao (C) (S. reef)

 10°13’N

114°12’E

 A sand dune, 2 m high.  Has fringing reef plus a reef 2 miles to the south, both covered at high tide [16, 18].  [20] calls this Gaven Island.  Now all cement and a raised metal frame, with two-story buildings placed on top [FBIS-CHI-94-189, 9/29/94].  Southern reef was occuped by PRC on 7/4/92 [13]. PRC

1988

[1, 3, 7, 12, 20, FBIS]
Grainger Bank

Bai Que Duong (V)

Lizhun Tan (C)

 7°52’N

110°29’E

 Shallowest natural depth is either 9 m [18] or 11 m [9]. Vietnam

1989

[6, 13]
Grierson Reef

(Part of Union Atoll)

Ca Nham,

Sinh Ton Gong (V)

Ranqing Shazhou (C)

 9°54’N

114°35’E

(both vary by +2′)

 [18] lists a sand cay w/fringing reef at about this spot, but doesn’t give its name.  Reported coordinates vary.  Probably synonymous with Sin Cowe East Island, but some sources list Sin Cowe East Island as being occupied by Vietnam since 1988 and Grierson as being unoccupied. None?

Vietnam

1988?
Half Moon Shoal

Bai Trang Khuyet (V)

Banyue Jiao (C)

 8°52’N

116°16’E

 Several rocks on the eastern side rise one to two feet above high tide.  Encloses a lagoon [9, 18].  PRC has placed a stone marker here. None
Hardy Reef

Banlu Jiao (C)

 10°07’N

116°08’E

 Naturally above water only at low tide.  Surrounds a narrow strip of sand [18]. None

[7]
Higgens Reef

(Part of Union banks)

Quyuen Jiao (C)

 9°48’N

114°24’E

 Only listed in [9], which clearly distinguishes it from Landsdowne Reef.  Only above water at low tide. None
Holiday Reef

(Part of Union Banks)

Changxian Jiao (C)

 9°49’N

114°23’E

 Above water only at low tide [18]. None

[7]
Hopps Reef

Da Hop (V)

Lusha Jiao (C)

 10°15’N

115°23’E

 Above water only at low tide [18].  Part of Southampton Reefs. None

[7]
Hughes Reef

(Part of Union Banks)

 9°55’N

114°30’E

 Above water only at low tide [9, 18]. None
Investigator Reef

Bai Tham Hiem (V)

Langkuo, Yuya Jiao (C)

Terumbu Peninjau (M)

 8°07’N

114°40’E

 [18] says reef is above water only at low tide, but [9] claims that “some large rocks at the western end might be visible at high water.”  Encloses a lagoon. None

[7[
Iroquois Reef

Houteng Jiao (C)

 10°37’N

116°10’E

 Above water only at low tide. None

[7]
Irving Reef

Dao Ca Nham (V)

Huo’ai Jiao (C)

Balagtas (P)

 10°53’N

114°56’E

 Most sources say  naturally above water only at low tide, and Jiao is Chinese for reef.  Yet [20] calls this Irving Cay, and [9] states that a very small cay lies at the reef’s northern end. Philippines

no date

[7, 8, 20]
Itu Aba Island

(Part of Tizard Banks)

Dao Thai Binh,

Dao Ba Binh (V)

Taiping Dao (C)

Ligaw (P)

 10°23’N

114°21’E

 Covered w/shrubs, coconut and mangroves in 1938.  960 x 400 m, 0.46 sq. km or 46 ha–the largest Spratly Is. [8, 12, 16].  [17] gives 450 x 275 m, [9] lists 1400 x 370 m, and Columbia Gazetteer says 1200 x 800 m.)  5 m high.  600 soldiers, lighthouse, radio and weather stations, concerete landing jetty and two wells at SW end.  Guano deposits, fringing reef.  Hainan fishermen used to visit annually.  In 8/93, plans were announced for a 2 km-long airstrip and fishing port.  [1, 7, 8, 12, 16, 17]; also [Indochina Digest, 8/20/93, p. 2] and [IBRU, 10/93].  [12] says pineapple is cultivated here.

More about Itu Aba…

 Taiwan

1956 or 1963

[1, 3, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20]
Jackson Reef

Wufan(g) Jiao (C)

 10°30’N

115°45’E

 Four or five portions are above water at low tide.  Encloses a lagoon [18]. None

[7]
Johnson North Reef See Collins Reef
Johnson South Reef

(Part of Union banks)

Da Gac Ma (V)

Chigua Jiao (?) (C)

 9°43’N

114°18’E

 Contiguous with Collins Reef.  [18] says naturally above water only at low tide, but [9] says many rocks above water at high tide.  [1, 4, 13] give Chigua as Chinese name.  [19] does too, but also gives this name to Kennan.  [3] says “Mabini” is English for Chigua.  Site of 1988 PRC/Vietnam clash. PRC

1988

[1, 7]
Kennan Reef

(Part of Union Banks)

Da Ken Nan (V)

Dongmen or Ximen Jiao (C)

[19] calls this McKennan Reef.

 9°53’N

114°27’E

 Naturally above water at least at low tide.  Not listed in [18].  [20] calls this Kennan Island, but no other source agrees.  [19] gives both Chigua & Dongmen as Chinese names; [7] gives only Chigua.  [3] and [4] say Dongmen is different from both Johnson South and Kennan Reefs.  [FBIS-CHI-94-189, 9/29/94] also separates Chigua & Dongmen, but doesn’t give English synonyms. PRC

1988

[3, 7, 20]
Ladd Reef

(Hon) Da Lat (V)

Riji, Jiao, Shizi Jiao (C)

 8°38’N

11°40’E

 Naturally above water at low tide.  Coral lagoon [18].  Was occupied by Vietnam in 1988 [7].  [14] says a marker was placed on “Da La” by the PRC in 7/92, but not occupied.  [14] claims that “Da La” is Nanxun in Chinese, but that is Gaven Reef. PRC

July 1992

[1]
Lansdowne Reef

(Part of Union Banks)

Da Len Dao (V)

Qiong Jiao (C)

 9°46’N

114°22’E

 Sand dune, with fringing reef [9, 16].  [20] claims that PRC occupies, while [7] says it’s unoccupied.  Only [1, 9] claim that Lansdowne and Da Len Dao are the same, but this is the most logical arrangement.  Also spelled Landsdowne. Vietnam

no date

[1, 3, 7, 20]
Lankiam Cay

Bo Loai Ta (V)

Yanxin Shazhou (C)

Panata (P)

 10°44’N

114°31’E

 Sand, surrounded by three reefs which are above water at high tide [18].  Area of “a few hectares” [9]. Philippines

no date

[1, 3, 7, 20]
Livock Reef

Sanjiao Jiao (C)

 10°11’N

115°18’E

 [18] says above water only at low tide, but [9] says some rocks still visible at high tide.  Part of Southampton Reefs. None

[7]
“Loaita Cay”

Bai Loai Ta Nam (V)

Nanyue Shazhou,

Nanyao Shazhou (C)

 10°44’N

114°21’E

 A sand cay, with fringing reef naturally above water at high tide [9, 16, 18].  The only speculation regarding Chinese occupation is in [7], but neither [7] nor [9] list this feature in their tables.  Most maps which show it mark it as unoccupied. PRC?

1988?
Loaita Island

Dao Loai Ta (V)

Nanyue Dao, Nanyao Dao (C)

Kota (P)

 10°41’N

114°25’E

 2 m high, 6 ha; covered with mangrove bushes in 1933, above which rose coconut palms and other small trees.  At this time a beacon was operating here, but no indication who built it.  Fringing reef [12, 16, 18]. Philippines

1968

[1, 3, 7, 8, 12, 16, 20]
Loaita Nan

Bai Loai Ta (V)

Zhuangyuan Jiao,

Shuanghuang Shazhou (C)

 10°42.5’N

114°19.5’E

 Also called Loaita Southwest Reef.  Never above water [18].  PRC may have occupied either this or Loaita Cay in 1988 [7, 13, 19].  [9] claims that this and Loaita Cay may be one and the same. PRC?

1988?

[7]
Louisa Reef

Nan Tong Jiao (C)

Terumbu Semarang

Barat Kecil (M)

 6°20’N

113°14’E

 Rocks 1 m high [7, 9, 16, 18].  [7] says it’s deserted, and [20] claims that it is occupied by the PRC.  China did plant a stone marked here in 1988, which Malaysia promptly removed [7].  Malaysia operates a lighthouse (beacon/”accommodation module”) here. Malaysis

no date
Loveless Reef

(Part of Union Banks)

Hua Jiao (C)

 9°49’N

114°16’E

 Above water only at low tide [18].  [3] claims that Vietnam occupies this reef. None

[7]
Mariveles Reef

Bai (or Da) Ky Van (V)

Nanhai Jiao (C)

Terumbu Mantanani (M)

 7°59’N

113°50’E

 A sand cay, 1.5-2 m high, surrounded by two lagoons, parts of which are above water at high tide [9, 16, 18].  Malaysia has 20 soldiers stationed here [7]. Malaysis

1986 or 1987

[1, 3, 7, 8, 20]
Menzies Reef

(Part of Loaita Bank)

Da Men Di (V)

Mengzi Jiao (C)

 11°09’N

114°49’E

 Awash at low tide [18]. None

[7]
Mischief Reef

Da Vanh Khan (V)

Meiji Jiao (C)

 9°55’N

115°32’E

 Some rocks above water at low tide.  Has a lagoon [18].  In Feb. 1995, the Philippines found that the PRC had built a wooden complex on stilts here for fishermen [Many news sources].  Some reports confuse this with Northeast Investigator Shoal. PRC

1995
Namyit Island

(Part of Tizard Banks)

Dao Nam Yit (V)

Hungma Dao, Hongxiu Dao (C)

Binago (P)

 10°11’N

114°22’E

 Most sources say about 6 m high, but [9, 12 and 16] say about 19m.  Covered with small trees, bushes and grass in 1963.  Fringing reef [18].

More about Namyit…

Vietnam

1974 or 1975

[1, 3, 7, 12, 20]
Nanshan Island

Dao Vinh Vien (V)

Mahuan Dao (C)

Lawak (P)

 10°45’N

115°49’E

 2.5 m high, covered with cocunut trees, bushes and grass in 1963.  580 m long, on the edge of a submerged reef.  Has a small airstrip [16]. Philippines

no date

[1, 7, 8, 12, 20]
North Reef

(Part of North Danger Reef)

Shuangzi, Gongshi or Dongbei Jiao (C)

 11°28’N

114°22’E

 At NE end of North Danger Reef.  Naturally above water only at low tide [18].  [7] states that PRC troops may be stationed on North Danger Reef, and this is the only feature on the atoll not definitely occupied by someone else.  [13] claims that Vietnam has occupied this reef since 1987. PRC?

1989?

[7]
Northeast Cay

(Part of North Danger Reef)

Dao Song Tu Dong (V)

Beizi Dao (C)

Parola (P)

 11°28’N

114°21’E

 3 m high, covered with grass and thick trees in 1963.  685 x 90 m, or 20 acres [16, 20].  Much of ringing reef is above water at high tide.  Supported a beacon in 1984.  Guano deposits [12].  [9] claims that Shira Islet, a “pronounced hummock,” lies 320 m to the south. Philippines

1968 [16]

1971 [7]

[3, 12]
Northeast Investigator Shoal

Haikou Jiao (C)

 9°10’N

116°27’E

 Part of this reef is above water at low tide [18], and [9] claims that some rocks might be visible at high tide.  Some reports confuse this with Mischief Reef. None
Northwest Investigator Reef See Fiery Cross Reef
Owen Shoal

Aoyuan Ansha (C)

 8°10’N

111°59’E

 Shallowest natural depth is 6 m [18].  Although one source claims that this shoal is occupied by Vietnam, no other sources can verify; [7] and others list it as unoccupied. None

[7]
Pearson Reefs

Hon Sap, Phan Vinh or Dao Vanh Vinh (V)

Bisheng Dao (C)

Hizon (P)

 8°58’N

113°41’E

 Two sand “cays”, 2 m and 1 m high, lie on the edges of a lagoon.  Parts of the surrounding reef are above water at high tide [9, 16, 18]. Vietnam

1988

[1, 3, 7, 20]
Petley Reef

(Part of Tizard Banks)

Da Nui Thi, Do Thi (V)

Bolan Jiao (C)

 10°24’N

114°34’E

 [18] states that this reef is naturally above water only at low tide, but [9] claims that “some small rocks might stand above high water.” Vietnam

1988

[1, 3, 7, 20]
Pigeon Reef

Da T(h)ien (Yen) Nu (V)

Wumie Jiao (C)

 8°52’N

114°39’E

 Numerous rocks are naturally above the high tide line.  Encloses a lagoon [9, 18].  Called Tennent Reef on British charts. Vietnam

1988

[1, 7, 20]
Prince Consort Bank

Bai Phuc Nguyen (V)

Xiwei Tan (C)

 7°56’N

109°58’E

 [18] claims that shallowest natural depth is 9 m, while [9] lists 18.3 m.  [7] lists it as unoccupied.  Coral. Vietnam

1989

[6]
Prince of Wales Bank

Bai Huyen Tran or Bai Phuc Tan (V)

Guangya Tan (C)

 8°04’N

110°30’E

 Shallowest natural depth is 7 m.  Coral [18].  [20] lists PRC as occupying. Vietnam?

1989

[1, 7]
Reed Bank

Bai Co Rong (V)

Liyue Tan, Lile Tan (C)

 11°20’N

116°50’E

 Shallowest natural depth is 9 m [18] or 16 m [9], [3, 7, and 10] claim this feature has been occupied by the Philippines since 1971 or 1976, but no other reference verifies this. None?
Rifleman Bank

Bai Vung May (V)

Nanwei Tan (C0

 7°50’N

111°40’E

 Shallowest natural depth is 3 m, called Bombay Castle.  Sand and coral [18].  [10] claims that Rifleman Bank was occupied by 1983, and Bombay Castle in 1989. Vietnam

1983 or 1989

[1, 3, 10]
Royal Captain Shoal

Jiangzhang Ansha (C)

 9°01’N

116°40’E

 A few rocks are above water at low tide [18].  Surrounds a lagoon. None
Royal Charlotte Reef

Da Sac Lot (V)

Huang Lu Jiao (C)

Terumbu Samarang Barat Besar (M)

 7°00’N

113°35’E

 A sand dune with no vegetation, plus rocks up to 1.2 m high [7, 9, 16, 18].  A beacon has been erected on the reef, but no information whether Malaysia maintains it.  Most of the reef is “slightly submerged” at high tide [7]. None

[7, 20]
Sand Cay

(Part of Tizard Banks)

Da (or Dao) Son Ca (V)

Dungian Shazhou (C0

 10°23’N

114°28’E

 3 m high, 7 ha [9].  Covered with trees and bushes in 1951.  Fringing reef partly above water at low tide [16, 18].  [3] claims that Vietnam occupies Sandy Cay instead, but since no other authors corroborate this, it is probably erroneous. Vietnam

1974 or 1975

[1, 7, 13, 20]
Sandy Cay

Tiexian Jiao (C)

 11°03’N

114°13’E

 A low sand cay; fringing reef above water at high tide [18].  May be the only  unoccupied island or cay in the Spratlys. None

[7]
Scarborough Reef

Huang Yen Tao (C)

 15°08’N

117°45’E

 Several rocks up to 3 m high.  Much of the reef is just below water at high tide.  Encloses a lagoon.  Near the mouth of the lagoon are the ruins of an iron tower, 8.3 m high.  No information on who constructed it [16, 18]. None

[7]

`
Shira Islet See Northeast Cay.
Sin Cowe Island

(Part of Union Banks)

Dao Sinh Tonh (V)

Jinghong Dao (C)

Rurok (P)

 9°52’N

114°19’E

 May consist of two sand cays, 4 m and 2.5 m high [16, 18].  If so, it may be that one of these is actually the elusive Sin Cowe East Island; sources are unclear on this.  Has fringing reef which is above water at low tide [18].  [8] claims that this feature is occupied by China, but more recent sources (e.g., [FEER, 8/13/92], [1] state that Vietnam still occupies it. Vietnam

1974

[1, 3, 7, 12];

[8] says PRC

since 1978
Sin Cowe East Island

Sinh Ton Dong (C0

 9°55’N

114°32’E

 This mysterious feature is shown on four maps and in [19] , but does not appear in [1, 7, 8, 16, 20] or on detailed maps.  Probably same as Grierson Reef, but may be one-half of Sin Cowe Island. None?

Vietnam,

1988?
South Reef

(Part of North Danger Reef)

Da Nam (V)

Nailuo or Xinan Jiao (C)

 11°23’N

114°18’E

 A tiny cay appears atop this reef on the most detailed map available.  On the southwest end of North Danger Reef.  Fringing reef is above water at low tide. Vietnam

1988

[1, 3, 7, 13, 20]
Southampton Reefs See Hopps and Livock Reefs.
Southwest Cay

(Part of North Danger Reef)

Dao Song Tu Tay (V)

Nanzi Dao (C)

Pugad (P)

 11°26’N

114°20’E

 Only 1.75 miles from Northeast Cay.  Was a breeding place for birds in 1963, when it was covered with trees and guano. Export of guano was once carried out “on a considerable scale.”  Fringing reef partly above water at high tide.  Two wells and a 12 m-high “mast” on SE side in 1963 [7, 16, 18].  Vietnam erected its first lighthouse in the Spratlys here in October 1993, and may have built an airstrip as well [20], [Indochina Digest, 5/27/94, p. 2].  Cay is 4-6 m high [FBIS-EAS-94-123, 6/27/94, p 67]. Vietnam

1974

[1, 3, 7, 8, 12, 20]
Spratly Island

Dao Truong Sa (V)

Nanwei Dao (C)

Lagos (P)

 8°38’N

114°25’E

 2.5 m high, flat.  Covered with bushes, grass, birds and guano in 1963.  [12, 16] and [18] claim that area is 13-15 ha; [8] says 750 x 400 m, Columbia Gazetteer 500 x 350 yards, Encyclopedia Britannica 450 x 275 m, and [6] = 1 km long.  5.5 m-high obelisk at southern tip.  Has landing strip, and perhaps a fishing port [17].  Fringing reef is above water at low tide. Vietnam

1974 or 1975

[1, 3, 7, 9, 20]
Subi Reef

Da Su Bi (V)

Zhubi Dao (C0

 10°54’N

114°06’E

 Naturally above water only at low tide.  Surrounds a lagoon.  PRC has constructed 3-story buildings, wharfs, and a helipad here [20]. PRC

1988

[1, 3, 7, 20]
Swallow Reef

Da Hua (or Hoa) Lau (V)

Danwan Jiao (C)

Terumbu Layang Layang (M)

 7°23’N

113°48’E

 Treeless cay and rocks up to 3 m high surround a lagoon.  6.2 ha [9, 16, 18].  Malaysia has drawn territorial seas around this and Amboyna Cay.  70 soldiers stationed here maintain a beacon [7].  Has a fishing port and a 15-room resort, including a 1.5 km airstrip [3, 14].  Soil and trees have been planted on what was “four miles of treeless beaches and coral reefs”  [FEER, 6/20/91, p. 20] and [Christian Science Monitor, 12/1/93, p. 14]. Malaysia

1983/1984

[1, 7, 8, 20]
Tennent Reef See Pigeon Reef.
Thitu Island

Dao Thi Tu (V)

Zhongye Dao (C)

Pagasa (P)

 11°03’N

114°17’E

 3.4 m high, covered with grass, bushes and palms in 1963.  In the past, occasionally inhabited by Chinese fishermen [16, 18].  22 ha, with a 5500-ft. landing strip and a marina.  Two commercial flights weekly [2, 12].  100 fishermen and weathermen.  Reef dries.  Variety of flora and fauna.  Second largest island in the Spratlys. Philippines

1968 [16],

1971 [8], or

1978 [7]

[1, 3, 12]
Tieshi Jiao (C)

(NE of Thitu Island)

 11°05’N

114°22’E

 Above water only at low tide [18].  Not in [7] or [16], but listed in [19] and found on detailed maps, often at slightly different coordinates. None
Vanguard Bank

Bai Tu Chinh (V)

Wan-an Tan (C)

 7°30’N

109°35’E

 Shallowest natural depth is 16 m [18].  Vietnam has run two “economic technological service stations” in this area since July 1994 [FBIS-EAS-94-146, 7/29/94, p. 87]. Vietnam

1989

[6, 7, 13]
West Reef

(Part of London Reefs)

Da Tay, Con Tay (V)

Xi Jiao (C)

 8°52’N

112°15’E

 East part is sand “cay”, 0.6 m high.  West part is coral reef which is above water only at low tide.  Between them is a lagoon [16, 18].  Vietnam erected a lighthouse here in May or June of 1994 [Indochina Digest, 5/27/94, p. 2]. Vietnam

no date

[7]
West York Island

Dao Ben Lac or Loc (V)

Xi Yue Dao (C0

Likas (P)

 11°05’N

115°01’E

 Covered with bushes, mangroves and coconut palms in 1963.  500 x 320 m [16, 18]; [12] claims it covers less than 20 acres.  Fringing reef is partly above water at low tide [18]. Philippines

no date

[1, 3, 7, 8, 12, 20]
Whitson Reef

(Part of Union Banks)

Da Ba Dao (V)

Niue Jiao (C0

 10°00’N

114°43’E

 Some rocks naturally above water at high tide [9].  Also spelled Whitsun.   [9, 19] and others call this Niue Jiao in Chinese, but [7] gives this name to nearby Grierson Reef.  There may have been a small cay here in 1957, but none remains today. PRC

March

1992

[1]
Zhangxi Jiao (C)

(Part of Union Banks)

 9°46’N

114°24’E

 Small reef, partly above water only at low tide [18].  Not in [7], [9] or [19], but present on detailed maps. None
Nameless Reef

Between Hughes and Holiday Reefs

 9°56’N

114°31’E

 Above water only at low tide.  Not in [7] or [19], but it appears on detailed maps. None
Two nameless reefs

East of Lankiam Cay

 9°45-46.5′ N

114°36’E

 One reef is above water only at low tide; according to [18], there is a sand cay atop the other.  No other source lists them, but they both appear on detailed maps as drying reefs. None
Two nameless reefs

West of Sandy Cay and Thitu Island

 11°2-4’N

114°11.5-16’E

 Above water only at low tide.  Not in [7] or [19], but they appear on detailed maps. None

Notes

In Mandarin Chinese, Dao = Island; Shazhou = Cay; Jiao = Reef; Ansha = Shoal; and Tan = Bank.

FBIS = Foreign Broadcast Information Service Daily; FEER = Far Eastern Economic Review; IBRU = International Boundaries Research Unit, Boundary Security Bulletin; m = meters.  All miles are nautical miles.

References

(1)        Asia, Inc. Magazine, September 1993.

(2)        Alice D. Ba, 1994.  China, oil and the South China Sea:  Prospects for joint development.  Asian Review, Vol. 12, No. 4, pp. 123-147.

(3)        Hurng-yu Chen, 1991.  The prospects for joint development in the South China Sea.  Issues and Studies (Taiwan), Vol. 27, No. 12, pp. 112-125.