Fiat Island
Encyclopedia
Flat Island is the second smallest island
of Spratly Islands
. It is the sixth largest among the Philippine-occupied Spratly islands. It has an area of 0.57 hecatres (5,700 sq. m). It is about 6 miles (10 km) southwest of Philippine-occupied Nanshan Island
, and is also controlled by the Philippines as part of Kalayaan, Palawan
. The island is claimed
by the People's Republic of China
, Republic of China (Taiwan)
, and Vietnam
.
, it is also barren of any vegetation. No underground water source is found in the island.
distance). The soldiers also regularly visit the island.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
of Spratly Islands
Spratly Islands
The Spratly Islands are a group of more than 750 reefs, islets, atolls, cays and islands in the South China Sea. The archipelago lies off the coasts of the Philippines and Malaysia , about one third of the way from there to southern Vietnam. They comprise less than four square kilometers of land...
. It is the sixth largest among the Philippine-occupied Spratly islands. It has an area of 0.57 hecatres (5,700 sq. m). It is about 6 miles (10 km) southwest of Philippine-occupied Nanshan Island
Nanshan Island
Nanshan Island is the eighth largest island of Spratly Islands and the fourth largest among Philippine-occupied Spratly islands. It has an area of 7.93 hectares. It is located 98.0 miles east of Pag-asa . This island is administered by the Philippines as part of Kalayaan,...
, and is also controlled by the Philippines as part of Kalayaan, Palawan
Kalayaan, Palawan
Kalayaan is a 6th class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 114 people in 12 households....
. The island is claimed
Spratly Islands dispute
The Spratly Islands dispute is a territorial dispute over the ownership of the Spratly Islands, a group of islands located in the South China Sea. States staking claims to various islands are: the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China , Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Brunei...
by the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, Republic of China (Taiwan)
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
, and Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
.
Environment
The island is a low, flat, sandy cay, 240 by 90 m, and is subject to erosion. 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 Lankiam CayLankiam Cay
Lankiam Cay is the smallest island of Spratly islands. It is the seventh largest among Philippine-occupied islands. It has an area of 0.44 hectares . It is located 8 miles northeast of Philippine-occupied Loaita Island...
, it is also barren of any vegetation. No underground water source is found in the island.
Philippine Occupation
Presently, this island serves only as a military observation post, and is guarded by Philippine soldiers stationed at nearby Nanshan Island. The island is too small and manning it 24 hours is a difficult task. Hence, the soldiers at Nanshan Island guard it afar by regularly "watching" it from a tall structure (to increase the horizonHorizon
The horizon is the apparent line that separates earth from sky, the line that divides all visible directions into two categories: those that intersect the Earth's surface, and those that do not. At many locations, the true horizon is obscured by trees, buildings, mountains, etc., and the resulting...
distance). The soldiers also regularly visit the island.
See also
- Spratly Islands DisputeSpratly Islands disputeThe Spratly Islands dispute is a territorial dispute over the ownership of the Spratly Islands, a group of islands located in the South China Sea. States staking claims to various islands are: the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China , Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Brunei...
- Policies, activities and history of the Philippines in Spratly IslandsPolicies, activities and history of the Philippines in Spratly Islands-Overview:The Philippines, along with Vietnam, People's Republic of China, Republic of China , Malaysia and Brunei, is a claimant country in the disputed Spratly Islands group. Currently the Philippines is occupying nine features :As a comparison, Vietnam occupies six islands, seventeen reefs and...