Second Thomas Shoal

Second Thomas Shoal, (also known as Ayungin Shoal in the Philippines, marked as Jen-ai'Chiao on nautical charts, and known as Bãi Cỏ Mây in Vietnam), is an uninhabited[1] shoal/atoll in the Spratly group of islands in the South China Sea, 105 nautical miles (194 km; 121 mi) west of Palawan, Philippines.[2] Claimed by several nations, the shoal is currently militarily occupied by the Philippines.

History

The shoal is one of three named after Thomas Gilbert, the Captain of the Charlotte which sailed as a transport ship in the First Fleet to Australia, and was subsequently an East India Company tea clipper:[3]

  • First Thomas Shoal
09°19′N 115°56′E / 9.317°N 115.933°E / 9.317; 115.933 (S of the Second Thomas Shoal[4])
  • Second Thomas Shoal
09°44′N 115°52′E / 9.733°N 115.867°E / 9.733; 115.867 (SE of Mischief Reef[4])
  • Third Thomas Shoal
10°54′N 115°56′E / 10.900°N 115.933°E / 10.900; 115.933 (NE of Flat Island - some distance N of the Second Thomas Shoal[5])
Second Thomas Shoal

Geographical location

Located southeast of Mischief Reef at 09°44′N 115°52′E / 9.733°N 115.867°E / 9.733; 115.867Coordinates: 09°44′N 115°52′E / 9.733°N 115.867°E / 9.733; 115.867 (09°44′N 115°52′E / 9.733°N 115.867°E / 9.733; 115.867), Second Thomas Shoal is near the centre of Dangerous Ground in the north-eastern part of the Spratly Islands; there are no settlements north or east of it.[4][5] It is a tear-drop shaped atoll, 11 nautical miles (20 km; 13 mi) long North-South[6] and fringed with coral reefs.[7] The coral rim surrounds a lagoon which has depths of up to 27 metres (89 ft) and is accessible to small boats from the East. Drying patches are found east and west of the reef rim.

Territorial claims

Second Thomas Shoal is claimed by the Philippines and China.[8]

The Philippine navy maintains a presence of less than a dozen navy personnel on the 100 m (330 ft) long U.S.-built (Second World War) Philippine Navy landing craft BRP Sierre Madre (LT-57), which was deliberately run aground at the shoal in 1999 in response to the Chinese reclamation of Mischief Reef.[9][10] The Philippines claims that the shoal is part of its continental shelf,[11] while parts of the Spratly group of islands, where Second Thomas Shoal lies, are claimed by China, Brunei, the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam. In 2014, the Chinese government asked the Philippines to remove the grounded ship.[12][13]

Philippine supply ships subsequently avoided Chinese blockades in order to deliver food, water and other supplies to the garrison.[14] PRC coast guard vessels blocked two attempts by Philippine ships to resupply the garrison on March 9, 2014. Supplies were airdropped to the garrison three days later. A supply ship with replacement troops successfully reached the shoal on March 29, 2014 by sailing through shallow waters where the PRC vessels (with deeper drafts) were unable to follow. During the approach, Philippine crew members and troops on the resupply ship waved the peace sign at the pursuing Chinese coast guard crew.[15] Since then, the Philippine military has been sending monthly relief missions in the form of air dropped provisions to the troops stationed here.[16]

Alternate names

The Singapore National University Gazetteer (Number 75967)[17] lists the following as other names for the Second Thomas Shoal:

References

  1. ↑ Sailing Directions - South China Sea. Taunton: UK Hydrographic Office.
  2. ↑ Sailing Directions Enroute : Publication 158 - Philippine Islands. Springfield, Virginia: US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). 2013.
  3. ↑ "Charlotte". First Fleet Fellowship. Retrieved 17 Sep 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 NGA Chart 93046 - SE Dangerous Ground
  5. 1 2 NGA Chart 93045 - NE Dangerous Ground
  6. ↑ "Sailing Directions Enroute - Pub 161 - South China Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, Fifteenth Edition, 2014" (PDF). Springfield, VA: US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). 15 Nov 2014. p. 11 (sect. 1.32).
  7. ↑ "Imagery - Landsat 7 Path 118 Row 53". NASA. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  8. ↑ Robert C. Beckman, Ian Townsend-Gault, Clive Schofield, Tara Davenport, Leonardo Bernard. Beyond Territorial Disputes in the South China Sea: Legal Frameworks. Edward Elgar Publishing. p. 19. ISBN 978 1 78195 594 9.
  9. ↑ "A game of shark and minnow". The New York Times. 27 October 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  10. ↑ Cohen, Michael. "Manila monitoring Chinese shoal moves". IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  11. ↑ "DFA statement on China’s allegation that the PH agreed to pull out of Ayungin Shoal". Department of Foreign Affairs (Philippines). Official Gazette (Philippines). March 14, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
  12. ↑ "China 'posturing' to seize Ayungin – Golez". Rappler. 19 March 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  13. ↑ Esmaquel, Paterno (18 March 2014). "China digs up details vs PH on Ayungin". Rappler. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  14. ↑ de Castro, Erik; Ng, Roli (31 March 2014). "Philippine ship dodges China blockade to reach South China Sea outpost". www.reuters.com. Thomson Reuters. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  15. ↑ Gomez, Jim, Associated Press, "Philippine supply ship evades Chinese blockade", 29 March 2014
  16. ↑ Campbell, Eric (20 May 2014). "Reef Madness". ABC News. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  17. ↑ "Spratly Islands - Names". Gazetteer 75967. National University, Singapore. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
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