Union Banks

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Map of Union Banks Union Banks en.svg
Map of Union Banks
Vietnamese structure on Collins Reef (Da Co Lin) Collins Reef building by Vietnam.jpg
Vietnamese structure on Collins Reef (Đá Cô Lin)

Union Banks (Pagkakaisa Banks and Reefs) is a large drowned atoll in the center of Dangerous Ground in the Spratly Islands in South China Sea, 230 kilometres (120 nautical miles) [1] west of the Philippine coast, containing islands and reefs whose ownership remains disputed and controversial. [2] The closest atoll is Tizard Bank, 25 kilometres (13 nautical miles) due north of Union Banks. There are only two natural islands on the rim of the reef, Sin Cowe Island and Sin Cowe East Island.

Contents

The atoll is 55 kilometres (34 miles) long from Johnson South Reef in the southwest to Whitson Reef in the northeast, and up to 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) wide. Its total area measures 461 square kilometres (178 square miles). The central lagoon is up to 53 metres (174 feet) deep. [3]

Islands and reefs comprising Union Banks

Union Banks consists of the following islands and reefs, clockwise starting in the southwest corner: [4] [5]

Key: yellow = occupied by PRC; violet = occupied by Vietnam

FeatureLocation
Johnson South Reef (Chìguā Jiāo) (Mabini Reef) (Đá Gạc Ma) 09°43′9″N114°16′57″E / 9.71917°N 114.28250°E / 9.71917; 114.28250
Collins Reef/Johnson North Reef (Guǐhǎn Jiāo) (Roxas Reef) (Đá Cô Lin) 09°46′14″N114°15′27″E / 9.77056°N 114.25750°E / 9.77056; 114.25750
Đá Tam Trung 09°50′12″N114°16′6″E / 9.83667°N 114.26833°E / 9.83667; 114.26833
Loveless Reef  [ zh ] (Huá Jiāo) (Đá Nghĩa Hành) 09°51′13″N114°16′47″E / 9.85361°N 114.27972°E / 9.85361; 114.27972 *
Gent Reef  [ zh ] (Jíyáng Jiāo) (Đá Sơn Hà) 09°52′45″N114°18′21″E / 9.87917°N 114.30583°E / 9.87917; 114.30583
Sin Cowe Island/Sinh Ton Island (Jǐnghóng Dǎo) (Rurok Island) (Ching-hung Tao) (Đảo Sinh Tồn) 09°53′9″N114°19′46″E / 9.88583°N 114.32944°E / 9.88583; 114.32944
Edmund Reef  [ zh ] (Nánmén Jiāo) (Đá Bình Khê) 09°53′48″N114°23′40″E / 9.89667°N 114.39444°E / 9.89667; 114.39444 *
McKennan Reef  [ zh ]/Kennan Reef (Xīmén Jiāo) (Đá Ken Nan) 09°54′12″N114°27′56″E / 9.90333°N 114.46556°E / 9.90333; 114.46556
Đá Bia 09°53′42″N114°29′40″E / 9.89500°N 114.49444°E / 9.89500; 114.49444
Hughes Reef (Dōngmén Jiāo) (Tung-men Chiao) (Đá Tư Nghĩa) 09°54′51″N114°29′45″E / 9.91417°N 114.49583°E / 9.91417; 114.49583
Hallet Reef  [ zh ] (Ānlè Jiāo) (Đá Bình Sơn) 09°55′55″N114°31′25″E / 9.93194°N 114.52361°E / 9.93194; 114.52361 *
Holiday Reef  [ zh ] (Chángxiàn Jiāo) (Đá Bãi Khung) 09°57′55″N114°33′53″E / 9.96528°N 114.56472°E / 9.96528; 114.56472
Empire Reef  [ zh ] (Zhǔquán Jiāo) (Đá Đức Hòa) 09°58′44″N114°35′23″E / 9.97889°N 114.58972°E / 9.97889; 114.58972 *
Whitsun Reef/Whitson Reef (Niúè Jiāo) (Julian Felipe Reef) (Đá Ba Đầu) 10°00′10″N114°39′58″E / 10.00278°N 114.66611°E / 10.00278; 114.66611
Ross Reef  [ zh ] (Rǎnqīngdōng Jiāo) (Đá An Bình) 09°54′25″N114°35′52″E / 9.90694°N 114.59778°E / 9.90694; 114.59778
Grierson Reef/Sin Cowe East Island (Rǎnqīng Shāzhōu) (Jan-ch'ing Chiao) (Đảo Sinh Tồn Đông) 09°54′8.2″N114°33′50.7″E / 9.902278°N 114.564083°E / 9.902278; 114.564083
Bamford Reef  [ zh ] (Lóngxiā Jiāo) (Đá Vị Khê) 09°53′25″N114°32′7″E / 9.89028°N 114.53528°E / 9.89028; 114.53528
Tetley Reef  [ zh ] (Biǎncān Jiāo) (Đá Ninh Hòa) 09°52′5″N114°30′39″E / 9.86806°N 114.51083°E / 9.86806; 114.51083
[Unnamed reef] 09°51′5″N114°29′29″E / 9.85139°N 114.49139°E / 9.85139; 114.49139
Jones Reef  [ zh ] (Zhāngxī Jiāo) (Đá Văn Nguyên) 09°49′47″N114°27′57″E / 9.82972°N 114.46583°E / 9.82972; 114.46583
Higgens Reef  [ zh ]/Higgen Reef (Qūyuán Jiāo) (Đá Phúc Sĩ) 09°48′49″N114°24′12″E / 9.81361°N 114.40333°E / 9.81361; 114.40333
Lansdowne Reef (Qióng Jiāo) (Pagkakaisa Reef) (Chi'ung Chiao) (Đá Len Đao) 09°46′43″N114°22′14″E / 9.77861°N 114.37056°E / 9.77861; 114.37056

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sin Cowe Island</span> In S. China Sea disputed by CHN/PHL/VNM

Sin Cowe Island9°53′7″N114°19′47″E, also known as Sinh Ton Island ; Rurok Island ; Mandarin Chinese: 景宏島/景宏岛; pinyin: Jǐnghóng Dǎo, is an island in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. With an area of 8 hectares, it is the seventh largest Spratly island and the third largest of those occupied by Vietnam. It has a fringing reef which is above water at low tide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnson South Reef skirmish</span> 1988 Chinese naval victory over Vietnam

The Johnson South Reef skirmish took place on 14 March 1988 between military forces of the People's Republic of China and Vietnam, on the Johnson South Reef in the Union Banks region of the Spratly Islands, in the South China Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnson South Reef</span> Disputed reef in the South China Sea

Johnson South Reef, also known in Mandarin Chinese: 赤瓜礁; pinyin: Chìguā Jiāo; Mabini Reef ; Vietnamese: Đá Gạc Ma), is a reef in the southwest portion of the Union Banks in the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea. It is controlled by the People's Republic of China (PRC), but its ownership is disputed and also claimed by the Philippines, Taiwan (ROC), and Vietnam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Subi Reef</span> Disputed reef in the Spratly Islands

Subi Reef, also known as Zamora Reef ; Zhubi Reef ; Vietnamese: đá Xu Bi, is an atoll in the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea located 26 km (16 mi) southwest of Philippines' Pag-asa island Thitu Island under the municipality of the Kalayaan Island Group, Palawan province as claimed by Philippines. It is occupied by China (PRC), and claimed by Taiwan (ROC) and Vietnam. According to the claims of the PRC, it currently falls under the de facto jurisdiction of Nansha islands, Sansha city, Hainan province, China. But under the clauses of the UNCLOS, of which the PRC is also a signatory, the international law only the Philippines has the maritime rights to exploit its resources or build structures, as it is within the continental shelf of the coastal country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mischief Reef</span> Island in the South China Sea

Mischief Reef, also known as Panganiban Reef, is a low tide elevation (LTE) reef/atoll surrounding a large lagoon in the SE of Dangerous Ground in the east of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. It is located 250 kilometres (130 nmi) west of Palawan Island of the Philippines. Administratively, it belonged to the Kalayaan Islands municipality of the province of Palawan. It is also under the de facto jurisdiction of Nansha islands, Sansha City, Hainan province, China. Activities by the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the mid-2010s have created a large artificial island on the atoll including an approximately 2,700-metre (8,900 ft) runway and associated airfield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ladd Reef</span>

Ladd Reef is a Vietnam-controlled reef in the Spratly group of islands, South China Sea. China (PRC) and Taiwan (ROC) are also claimants of the reef. Like Spratly Island, Ladd Reef lies to the west of the Philippines-defined "Kalayaan Islands" claim area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trường Sa district</span> District in South Central Coast, Vietnam

Trường Sa is an island district of Khánh Hòa province in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam. It was established on the basis of the Spratly Islands, which is also claimed wholly or in part by Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines and Taiwan. According to the 2009 census, the district has a population of 195 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dangerous Ground (South China Sea)</span>

Dangerous Ground is a large area in the southeast part of the South China Sea characterized by many low islands and cays, sunken reefs, and atolls awash, with reefs often rising abruptly from ocean depths greater than 1,000 metres (3,300 ft).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tizard Bank</span>

The Tizard Bank, 10°15′N114°30′E is a partially sunken atoll and one of the significant maritime features of the north-western part of the Spratly Islands. It is claimed by Vietnam, China, and Taiwan, and various parts of it are occupied by these states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irving Reef</span>

Irving Reef, also known as Balagtas Reef, is a coral atoll in the Spratly Islands, South China Sea. It is occupied by the Philippines as part of Kalayaan, Palawan, and is also claimed by the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Vietnam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hughes Reef</span>

Hughes Reef is a reef in Union Banks in the Spratly group of islands, South China Sea claimed by the PRC (China), the ROC (Taiwan), the Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam. It is only above water at low tide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Collins Reef</span>

Collins Reef, also known as Johnson North Reef/Johnson Reef North; Vietnamese: Đá Cô Lin; Roxas Reef ; Mandarin Chinese: 鬼喊礁; pinyin: Guǐhǎn Jiāo, is a Vietnamese occupied and controlled reef and the westernmost feature of Union Banks Atoll near the centre of Dangerous Ground in the Spratly islands in the South China Sea. It is also claimed by China (PRC), Taiwan (ROC), and the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sabina Shoal</span> Atoll of Spratly Islands in South China Sea

Sabina Shoal, also known as Escoda Shoal ; Mandarin Chinese: 仙賓礁/仙宾礁; pinyin: Xiānbīn Jiāo; Vietnamese: Bãi Sa Bin, is an atoll in the NE of Dangerous Ground in the Spratly Islands. The Philippines puts it under the jurisdiction of Brgy. Pag-asa, Kalayaan, Palawan. It is also claimed by the People's Republic of China, and the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Vietnam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Reefs</span>

The London Reefs are located between 8°49′N112°12′E and 8°56′N112°52′E in the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Danger Reef</span>

North Danger Reef is one of the seven major reefs / banks / etc. in the Spratly Islands area of the South China Sea. It is the most North Western of the features of the Spratly Islands, located to the NW of Dangerous Ground.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitsun Reef</span> Reef in the South China Sea

Whitsun Reef, also known as Whitson Reef, Whitsum Reef, and Julian Felipe Reef, is a reef at the northeast extreme limit of the Union Banks in the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea. It is the largest reef of the Union Banks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grierson Reef</span> Reef

Grierson Reef ; Sin Cowe East Island (Vietnamese: Đảo Sinh Tồn Đông); Mandarin Chinese: 染青沙洲; pinyin: Rǎnqīng shāzhōu, is a cay on the eastern part of the Union Banks of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. The island has been occupied by Vietnam since 1978. It is also claimed by China (PRC), the Philippines, Vietnam, and Taiwan (ROC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pearson Reef</span> Island

Pearson Reef, as known as Phan Vinh Island ; Mandarin Chinese: 毕生礁; pinyin: Bìshēng jiāo, is a atoll on the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. The atoll has been occupied by Vietnam since 1978. It is also claimed by China (PRC), the Philippines, Vietnam, and Taiwan (ROC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lansdowne Reef</span> Island

Lansdowne Reef ; Len Đao Reef ; Mandarin Chinese: 琼礁; pinyin: Qióng jiāo, is a cay on the southern part of the Union Banks of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. The island has been occupied by Vietnam since 1988. It is also claimed by China (PRC), the Philippines, Vietnam, and Taiwan (ROC).

References

  1. "China expanding presence on Mabini reef". ABS CBN News / Kyodo News. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  2. Dato Mohammad, Brigadier General (1991). The Conflicting Claims in the South China Sea. PA, USA: U.S. Army War College.
  3. Atoll Area, Depth and Rainfall, rock.geosociety.org
  4. China Sea Pilot - Volume II - NP 31. Taunton: United Kingdom Hydrographic Office. 2012.
  5. "Digital Gazetteer of Spratly Islands". www.southchinasea.org. Archived from the original on 2007-07-17. Retrieved 2008-02-08.
    - Version dated 19 August 2011 is available at: "Digital Gazetteer of Spratly Islands". www.southchinasea.org. 19 August 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2014. This list includes the names of all Spratly features known to be occupied and/or above water at low tide.