Spratly Islands

0: 116°E meridian

To the east of this longitude is largely controlled by the Philippines.

1: Philippine Claim

2: Chinese Claim

Inclusive of Taiwan's

3: Vietnam Claim

4: Malaysian Claim

5: Brunei Claim

6: Itu Aba Island (Taiping Island)

Int'l Name: Itu Aba Island
Philippine Name: Ligao Island
Chinese Name: ??? Taiping Dao
Vietname Name: ??o Ba Bình

Occupied by Taiwan since 1956.
Area: 46 hectares

The largest of the Spratly islands. Covered with shrubs, coconut and mangroves. 600 soldiers stationed, lighthouse, radio and weather stations, concrete landing jetty and two wells at the SW end. Guano deposits, fringing reef. The now only 1150-meters-long airstrip was completed in January 2008. Pineapple was once cultivated here. Occupied since September 1956, four months after Filipino Tomas Cloma claimed the islands.

7: Ban Than Reef

Int'l Name: Ban Than Reef
Chinese Name: ??? Zhong Zhou Jiao
Vietnamese Name: Bãi Bàn Than

Occupied by Taiwan since 1995.

Small drying reef halfway between Taiwan-occupied Itu Aba and Vietnam-occupied Sand Cay. Has a structure and is garrisoned by some soldiers.

8: Sandy Cay or Extension Reef

Int'l Name: Sandy Cay or Extension Reef
Chinese Name: Tiexian Jiao

Not occupied by any country. However, because of its very close proximity to Philippine-occupied Pagasa Island, it is largely controlled by the Philippines.

A low sand cay; fringing reef above water at high tide.

9: Thitu Island (Pagasa Island)

Int'l Name: Thitu Island
Philippine Name: Pagasa Island
Chinese Name: ??? Zhongye Dao
Vietnamese Name: ??o Th? T?

Occupied by Philippines since 1968.
Area: 37.2
The second largest Spratly island. Serves as the poblacion for the Municipality of Kalayaan, Palawan, Phils. It is covered with trees and has a variety of fauna. It is home to some 300+ civilians (including children) and over 50 soldiers. Other islands are expected to be populated before 2010. Population is regulated to protect the island's flora and fauna and to avoid tension with other countries. It has 1.4 km airstrip, a marina, water filtering plant, power generator and a commercial communications tower (by Smart Communications). The Philippines' Department of Tourism is making improvements to the island to make it profitable.

10: Subi Reef

Int'l Name: Subi Reef
Chinese Name: ??? Zhubi Dao
Vietnamese Name: ?á Su Bi

Occupied by China.

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

11: Northeast Cay (Parola Island)

Int'l Name: Northeast Cay
Philippine Name: Parola Island
Chinese Name: ??? Beizi Dao
Vietnamese Name: ??o Song T? ?ông

Occupied by Philippines since 1968.

The fifth largest Spratly island. Only 1.75 miles (2.82 km) from Southwest Cay and can bee seen before the horizon. located 28 miles (45 km) northwest of Pag-asa (Thitu Island). Some of its outcrops are visible on its western side. It has high salinity groundwater and vegetation limited to beach type of plants. The corals around the island were mostly destroyed by rampant use of dynamite fishing and cyanide method employed by foreign fishing boats in the past. Covered with grass and thick trees. Much of the ringing reef is above water at high tide. Supported a beacon in 1984. Has Guano deposits. Several soldiers stationed. Has an airstrip. Shira Islet lies 320 m from the south of Northeast Cay.

12: Southwest Cay (Pugad Island)

Int'l Name: Southwest Cay
Philippine Name: Pugad Island
Chinese Name: ??? Nanzi Dao
Vietnamese Name: ??o Song T? Tây)
Occupied by Vietnam.
Area: 12 hectares.

The sixth largest Spratly island. Only 1.75 miles (2.82 km) from Northeast Cay. Previously a breeding place for birds and covered with trees and guano. Export of guano was once carried out "on a considerable scale." Fringing reef partly above water at high tide. Vietnam erected its first lighthouse in the Spratlys here in October 1993 and built an airstrip. Has a three-story building, garrisoned by soldiers. Philippine military controlled the island before early 1980's. Vietnamese forces invaded the island when Filipino soldiers guarding the island attended the birthday party of their commanding officer based in the nearby Northeast Cay. A confirmed report came out that Vietnamese prostitutes were sent by Vietnamese officials to the birthday party to lure the Filipino soldiers guarding the island

13: South Reef

Int'l Name: South Reef
Chinese Name: ??? Nailuo Jiao
Vietnamese Name: ?á Nam

Occupied by Vietnam since 1988.

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

14: North Reef

Int'l Name: North Reef
Chinese Name: Dongbei Jiao

Not occupied by any country. However, it was tightly guarded and controlled by the Philippines, who have soldiers stationed at nearby Parola Island (Northeast Cay).

At NE end of North Danger Reef. Naturally above water only at low tide.

15: Flat Island (Patag Island)

Int'l Name: Flat Island
Philippine Name: Patag Island
Chinese Name: ??? Feixin Dao
Vietnamese Name: ??o Bình Nguyên

Occupied by Philippines.

The fourteenth largest Spratly island. About 6 miles (10 km) southwest of Lawak Island (Nanshan Island). It changes its shape seasonally. The sand build up will depend largely on the direction of prevailing wind and waves. It takes the shape of an elongated one for some years now and a shape like that of a crescent moon for few years ago and it formed the shape of a letter “S” in the past. Like Panata Island (Lankiam Cay), it is also barren of any vegetation. No underground water source is found in the island. Presently, this island serves only as a military observation post for the Municipality of Kalayaan. A low, flat, sandy cay, 240 by 90 m, subject to erosion. Has a nearby reef which is above water at high tide. With large guano deposits. No vegetation. Several soldiers stationed.

16: Loaita Island (Kota Island)

Int'l Name: Loaita Island
Philippine Name: Kota Island
Chinese Name: ??? Nanyue Dao
Vietnamese Name: ??o Lo?i Ta

Occupied by Philippines since 1968.
Area: 6.45 hectares
The tenth largest Spratly island. Located 22 miles (35 km) southeast of Pag-asa (Thitu Island). It fringes the Laoita bank and reef. Its calcarenite outcrop is visible along its western side at low tide. The present shape of the island indicates sand buildup along its eastern side. The anchor-shaped side will eventually connect with the northern portion as the sand buildup continues thereby creating another mini-lagoon in the process. The presence of migrating sea birds adds to the high phosphorus contents of the sand found in the island. Occasionally, giant sea turtles are reported to be laying their eggs in the island. Covered with mangrove bushes, above which rose coconut palms and other small trees. Several soldiers stationed.

17: Lankiam Cay (Panata Island)

Int'l Name: Lankiam Cay
Philippine Name: Panata Island
Chinese Name: ???? Yangxin Shazhou
Vietnamese Name: C?n San Hô Lan Can

Occupied by Philippines.
0.44 hectares

The fifteenth largest and the smallest Spratly island. Located 8 miles (13 km) northeast of Kota Island (Lankiam Cay). A few years ago this island has a sand bar area of more than 5 hectares but strong waves brought by a strong typhoon washed out the sandy surface (beach) of the island leaving behind today the calcarenite foundation that can be seen at low tide. Several soldiers stationed.

18: Sin Cowe Island

Int'l Name: Sin Cowe Island
Philippine Name: Rurok Island
Chinese Name: ??? Jinghong Dao
Vietnamese Name: ??o Sinh T?n

Occupied by Vietnam since 1974.
Area: 8 hectares

The seventh largest Spratly island. Has fringing reef which is above water at low tide.

19: Johnson South Reef (Chigua Reef)

Int'l Name: Johnson South Reef
Philippine Name: Mabini Reef (Timog)
Chinese Name: ??? Chigua Jiao
Vietnamese Name: ?á G?c Ma

Occupied by China since 1988.

Contiguous with Collins Reef. Naturally above water only at low tide, but [9] says many rocks above water at high tide. Site of 1988 PRC/Vietnam clash.

20: Collins Reef or Johnson North Reef

Int'l Name: Collins Reef or Johnson North Reef
Philippine Name: Mabini Reef (Hilaga)
Chinese Name: ??? Guihan Jiao
Vietnamese Name: ?á Cô Lin

Occupied by Vietnam.

Connected to Johnson South Reef. A "coral dune" is located at the southeast corner, above the high tide line.

21: Higgens Reef (Da Hi Gen)

Int'l Name: Higgens Reef
Chinese Name: ??? Quyuan Jiao
Vietnamese Name: ?á Hi Gen

Occupied by Vietnam.

Only above water at low tide.

22: Kennan Reef

This marker is for Kennan (McKennan) Reef only.

Int'l Names: Kennan (McKennan) Reef and Hughes Reef
Chinese Names: ??? Ximen Jiao (for Kennan) and ??? Dongmen Jiao (for Hughes)
Vietnamese Name: ?á Ken Nan (for Kennan)

One of these two reefs is occupied by China since 1988.

Naturally above water at least at low tide. These two reefs are very close from each other. Different references have no concensus on which of the two reefs is occupied by China. The only certain thing is that China occupied one of the reefs and because the other reef is nearby, it is also virtually occupied by China.

23: Hughes Reef

This marker is for Hughes Reef only.

Int'l Names: Kennan (McKennan) Reef and Hughes Reef
Chinese Names: ??? Ximen Jiao (for Kennan) and ??? Dongmen Jiao (for Hughes)
Vietnamese Name: ?á Ken Nan (for Kennan)

One of these two reefs is occupied by China since 1988.

Naturally above water at least at low tide. These two reefs are very close from each other. Different references have no concensus on which of the two reefs is occupied by China. The only certain thing is that China occupied one of the reefs and because the other reef is nearby, it is also virtually occupied by China.

24: Jones Reef

Int'l Name: Jones Reef
Chinese Name: ??? Zhangxi Jiao

Not occupied by any country.

Small reef, partly above water only at low tide.

25: West York Island (Likas Island)

26: Nanshan Island (Lawak Island)

27: Lansdowne Reef

28: Loaita Cay

29: Loaita Nan

30: Spratly Island (proper)

31: Great Discovery Reef

32: Namyit Island

33: Grierson Reef

34: Livock Reef

35: Mischief Reef

36: Second Thomas Reef (Ayungin Reef)

37: Reed Bank/Tablemount

38: Alicia Anne Reef

39: First Thomas Reef

40: Sand Cay

41: Gaven Reef

42: Petley Reef

43: Eldad Reef

44: Ladd Reef

45: Camago-Malampaya Gas Field

46: West London Reef

47: Central London Reef

48: East London Reef

49: Cuarteron Reef

50: Pigeon Reef

51: Pearson Reef

52: Alison Reef

53: Cornwallis South Reef

54: Commodore Reef (Rizal Reef)

55: Investigator Shoal

56: Mariveles Reef

57: Erica Reef/Enloa Reef

58: Ardasier Reef

59: Dallas Reef

60: Swallow Reef

61: Louisa Reef

62: Royal Charlotte Reef

63: Amboyna Cay

64: Barque Canada Reef

65: Fiery Cross Reef

66: Rifleman Bank

67: Grainger Bank

68: Prince Consort Bank

69: Vanguard Bank

70: Jackson Atoll

71: Scarborough Shoal

72: Owen Shoal

73: Ganges Reef

74: Nares Bank

75: Iroquois Reef

76: Southern Reefs

77: Sabina Shoal

78: Half Moon Shoal

79: Boxall Reef

80: Royal Captain Shoal

81: Bombay Shoal

82: Investigator Northeast Shoal

83: Brown Reef

84: Templar Bank

85: Stag Shoal

86: Coronation Bank

87: Viper Shoal

88: North Viper Shoal