Amboyna Cay

Amboyna Cay

Map of the Spratly islands showing Amboyna Cay
Amboyna Cay Location in the South China Sea
Geography
Coordinates	7°53′00″N 112°55′01″E / 7.88333°N 112.917°E / 7.88333; 112.917Coordinates: 7°53′00″N 112°55′01″E / 7.88333°N 112.917°E / 7.88333; 112.917 7°53′00″N 112°55′01″E / 7.88333°N 112.917°E / 7.88333; 112.917
Archipelago	Spratly Islands
Area	1.6 ha (4.0 acres)
Administration
Occupied by Vietnam

Amboyna Cay, also known as An Bang Island, Tagalog: Lagos, Chinese: 安波沙洲; pinyin: Anbo Shazhou, Vietnamese: Đảo An Bang, Malay: Pulau Amboyna Kecil and other names is an island of the Spratly Islands group in the South China Sea located just outside (SW) of the southwest of Dangerous Ground.^[1] It is SW of Barque Canada Reef, south of the London Reefs, and NW of Swallow Reef.

With an area of 1.6 hectares (4.0 acres), it is the thirteenth largest naturally occurring Spratly island, and the sixth largest amongst those occupied by Vietnam.

The island has two parts: the east part consists of sand and coral, and the west part is covered with guano. It has a fringing reef. An obelisk, about 2.7 m high, stands on the SW corner. There is little vegetation. It is described by some as heavily fortified.^[2] A lighthouse has been operational on the island since May 1995.

The island is also claimed by the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China (Taiwan), the Philippines and Malaysia.

• 
  Amboyna Cay Lighthouse
• 
  View from Amboyna Cay
• 
  Vietnamese guards on Amboyna Cay

Recent history

In 1978 the Royal Malaysian Navy landed on the island and placed markers. However, the markers were subsequently destroyed by Vietnam who now occupies the island.^[3]

On 31 March 1979, forces occupying the Cay fired warning shots at a boat transporting six Amateur radio operators ("hams") attempting a Dxpedition to Amboyna Cay.

In 1982, a Singapore yacht operated by the owner and his wife transporting four German hams on a DXpedition to Amboyna Cay was fired upon by Vietnamese forces. One of the hams, Diethelm Mueller, was hit by an artillery round and fell overboard. The yacht burned and the rest of the party drifted for 11 days on debris. Another ham, Gero Band, died of thirst the day before the survivors were rescued by a passing Japanese freighter which took them to Hong Kong.^[4]

See also

• Spratly Islands dispute

References

Spratly Islands
Related articles	Spratly Islands dispute Great wall of sand History of the Spratly Islands List of airports in the Spratly Islands List of maritime features in the Spratly Islands Philippines and the Spratly Islands Republic of Morac-Songhrati-Meads Territorial disputes in the South China Sea Nine-dash line
Confrontations	Southwest Cay incident (1975) Johnson South Reef Skirmish (1988)
Regions	Dangerous Ground Loaita Bank London Reefs North Danger Reef Reed Bank Tizard Bank Union Banks
Occupied features	China Cuarteron Reef Fiery Cross Reef Gaven Reefs Hughes Reef Johnson South Reef Mischief Reef Subi Reef Malaysia Ardasier Reef Dallas Reef Erica Reef Investigator Shoal Mariveles Reef Swallow Reef Philippines Commodore Reef Flat Island Irving Reef Lankiam Cay Loaita Island Nanshan Island Northeast Cay Second Thomas Shoal Thitu Island West York Island Taiwan Taiping Island Zhongzhou Reef Vietnam Amboyna Cay Bombay Castle Collins Reef Cornwallis South Reef Ladd Reef Namyit Island Sand Cay Sin Cowe Island Southwest Cay Spratly Island
Unoccupied features	Half Moon Shoal Louisa Reef Luconia Shoals North East Investigator Shoal Royal Captain Shoal Sabina Shoal Western Reef