Whitsun Reef

Reef in the South China Sea

9°59′38″N 114°39′27″E / 9.99389°N 114.65750°E / 9.99389; 114.65750 (Whitsun Reef)Claimed by

China

Philippines

Vietnam

Whitsun Reef, also known as Whitson Reef, Whitsum Reef, and Julian Felipe Reef (Filipino: Bahura ng Julian Felipe; Mandarin Chinese: 牛轭礁; pinyin: Niú è jiāo; Vietnamese: Đá Ba Đầu), 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.^[1]

Topography

The reef is V-shaped with an area of about 10 km² (3.9 sq mi).^[1] Until at least the 1990s,^[2] it was above the water only during low tide; at other times the reef could be detected by the pattern of breaking waves.^[3] At the end of the 20th century, small sand dunes had developed on the reef making a territorial claim possible (an International Court of Justice judgment in 2012 stated that “low-tide elevations cannot be appropriated").^[4] The development of the dunes could have occurred naturally, but it was rumoured that the island was being built up by Vietnam and China.^[2]

Territorial disputes

As of 2016, the reef was unclaimed; reports to the contrary (Chinese control) were based on a confusion.^[4] However, due to the reef's strategic importance it was expected that the reef would be occupied "soon".^[2]

On 21 March 2021, about 220 Chinese fishing ships were moored at the reef^[5] ostensibly taking shelter due to the sea conditions.^[6] The Philippines considers the reef to be within its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf and protested the Chinese presence.^[6] Vietnam, which also claims the reef, also protested against Chinese presence in the area.^[7]

References

^ ^a ^b Hancox, David; Prescott, Victor (1995). A Geographical Description of the Spratly Islands and an Account of Hydrographic Surveys amongst Those Islands. Maritime Briefings. Vol. 1. University of Durham, International Boundaries Research Unit. p. 11. ISBN 978-1897643181.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ ^a ^b ^c Khan, Asif; Ullah, Maseeh (2018). "South China Sea Dispute Under Law of Sea" (PDF). SSRN (3239127).
^ Sailing Directions 161 (Enroute) - South China Sea and the Gulf of Thailand (13 ed.). Bethesda, Maryland: National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. 2011. p. 11.
^ ^a ^b Vuving, Alexander L (May 6, 2016). "South China Sea: Who Occupies What in the Spratlys?". The Diplomat.
^ Philippine Defense Chief Asks Chinese Flotilla to Leave Reef // Associated Press, March 21, 2021.
^ ^a ^b Newman, Scott (22 March 2021). "Philippines Calls On China To Remove Massive Fishing Fleet At Disputed Reef". NPR. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
^ "Vietnam Joins Opposition to Chinese Activity Near Disputed Sea Reef". Voice of America. 7 April 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2021.

External links

Our World Flashpoint: South China Sea, BBC, film documentary, July 2015.
Whitsun Reef (Union Reefs)

Spratly Islands

Confrontations

Regions

Occupied features

Brunei	Louisa Reef
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 Cay Loaita Island Nanshan Island Northeast Cay Second Thomas Shoal Thitu Island West York Island
Taiwan	Taiping Island Zhongzhou Reef
Vietnam	Alison Reef Amboyna Cay Barque Canada Reef Bombay Castle Central London Reef Collins Reef Cornwallis South Reef Discovery Great Reef East London Reef Grierson Reef Ladd Reef Lansdowne Reef Namyit Island Pearson Reef Petley Reef Sand Cay Sin Cowe Island South Reef Southwest Cay Spratly Island Tennent Reef West London Reef