|
|
|
|
Scarborough Shoal
|
| |
|
| |
Scarborough Shoal or Huangyan Dao (Chinese name: ??? Huangyan Dao, Philippine name: Panatag Shoal; ), more correctly described as a group of islands and reefs in an atoll shape than a shoal, is located between the Macclesfield Bank and Luzon, Philippines in the South China Sea, specifically Luzon Sea. As with most of the landforms in the sea, the sovereignty of the area is disputed. Some references include this shoal in their discussions about Spratly Islands, an island chain in South China Sea which is also contested by different countries.
Discussion
Ask a question about 'Scarborough Shoal' Start a new discussion about 'Scarborough Shoal' Answer questions from other users |
Encyclopedia
Scarborough Shoal or Huangyan Dao (Chinese name: ??? Huangyan Dao, Philippine name: Panatag Shoal; ), more correctly described as a group of islands and reefs in an atoll shape than a shoal, is located between the Macclesfield Bank and Luzon, Philippines in the South China Sea, specifically Luzon Sea. As with most of the landforms in the sea, the sovereignty of the area is disputed. Some references include this shoal in their discussions about Spratly Islands, an island chain in South China Sea which is also contested by different countries. Scarborough Shoal is not part of that chain.
Geography
The shoal forms a triangle shaped chain of reefs and islands (but mostly rocks) around with an of area 150 square kilometers. It has a lagoon with area of 130 kmē and depth of about . Several of the islands are 1/2m to 3m high and many of the reefs are just below water at high tide. Near the mouth of the lagoon are the ruins of an iron tower, 8.3m high which was constructed in 1965 by the Philippine Navy who first raised a flag there.
The shoal is a protrusion in a 3,500m deep abyssal plain. The nearest landmass is Palauig, Zambales, on Luzon Island in the Philippines, away. It is about west of Subic Bay.
Economy & Tourism
Chinese EEZ, and Filipino fishermen are tolerated in the area under strict guidelines set and implemented by the Chinese Navy.
Sovereignty dispute
The Philippines, the People's Republic of China, and Republic of China (Taiwan) all claim Scarborough Shoal. , the area is occupied by the Philippines.
The Philippine Navy has always been vigilant in the Scarborough Shoal for any suspicious or possible economic activity acted by the other claimants. The Philippines base their claim on its proximity, its being in the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone, and the principle of terra nullius, which holds that it was previously unclaimed by a sovereign state, which is also applied by the Philippines in its claims to the Spratly Islands.
On the other hand, the Chinese and the Taiwanese bases for claims are that the shoal was first mapped in the Yuan Dynasty as early as 1279 and was historically used by Chinese fishermen.
The Chinese side states that the territorial claim by the Philippine government is new. Treaties about the territory of the Philippines and Philippine constitution in 1935 and sea territorial law in 1961 state that the westernmost line of the Philippine territory is 118 East longitude, and the shoal is situated on the western side of the line. Also maps published before 1990 did not include the shoal as the territory of the Philippines.
Timeline
| 1279 | Historical claims said that the early Chinese used the area for fishing. | | 1500s | Historical reports said that as early as the Spanish era, Filipinos are already using the area for fishing and shelter for fishermen during bad weather. | | 1935 | China regarded Scarborough Shoal as part of Zhongsha Islands, although Chinese and foreign scholars question it because of its distance and significance. | | 1947 | China published a map drawing a line of claim across South China Sea, Scarborough Shoal is included. The claims were administered in Hainan province. | | 1957 | The Philippines conducted an oceanographic survey of the shoal. The Philippines together with the US Navy, used it as an impact range for defense purposes. | | 1965 | The Philippines constructed an 8.3 meter high flag pole and raised the Philippine flag in the shoal, it is said that a small lighthouse was built and operated. | | 1970 | China sent its first scientific expedition to the shoal. | | 1978 | The Philippines established its EEZ up to 200nm from the baselines from which the territorial sea is measured by Presidential Decree No.1599 in June 1978, which included the Scarborough Shoal. | | 1990 | China sent a contingent to the shoal and cemented a marker dated March 31, 1990. | | 1992 | The Philippine Navy rehabilitated the lighthouse and reported it to the International Maritime Organization for publication in the List of Lights. | | 1995 | China asserted its claim, only after the US Navy left Subic Base in Zambales in 1990. | | 1997 | The Philippines officially expressed its claim to Scarborough Shoal. Philippine flag was re-hoisted. DENR and the University of the Philippines conducted scientific, topographic and marine studies in the shoal. | | 1998 | Bilateral clashes, chases and arrests of several Chinese fisherman by the Philippine Navy took place. BRP Benguet went aground, but removed the same year. | | 2009 | The Philippine Senate and Congress ratified the baselines bill which provides that the Kalayaan Island Group and the Scarborough Shoal will comprise a "regime of islands" that will be under the "Philippine jurisprudence". | |
See also
Sources and references
External links
|
| |
|
|
