First Thomas Shoal

First Thomas Shoal

Disputed island
Geography
Location	West Philippine Sea
Coordinates	9°20′N 115°56′E / 9.33°N 115.93°E / 9.33; 115.93Coordinates: 9°20′N 115°56′E / 9.33°N 115.93°E / 9.33; 115.93
Archipelago	Spratly Islands
Claimed by
People's Republic of China
Philippines
Republic of China (Taiwan)
Vietnam

First Thomas Shoal, also known as Bulig Shoal in the Philippines, Bãi Suối Ngà in Vietnam, and 信义礁 in China, is an uninhabited reef/atoll located 29 nautical miles (54 km; 33 mi) south of Second Thomas Shoal.

The shoal is one of three named after Thomas Gilbert, the captain of the Charlotte, which sailed as a transport ship in the British First Fleet to Australia and subsequently became an East India Company tea clipper.^[1]

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