Subi Reef

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Subi Reef
Disputed island
Other names:
Zhubi Reef
Chinese: 渚碧礁; pinyin: Zhǔbì Jiāo
Tagalog: Zamora
Vietnamese: đá Xu Bi
Subi Reef, Spratly Islands.png
Landsat 7 Image (April 2000)
Geography
Location of Subi Reef
Location of Subi Reef
Location South China Sea
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Archipelago Spratly Islands
Administered by
People's Republic of China
Claimed by
People's Republic of China
Philippines
Republic of China (Taiwan)
Vietnam

Subi Reef Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found., also known as Zhubi Reef (Chinese: 渚碧礁; pinyin: Zhǔbì Jiāo; Tagalog: Zamora; Vietnamese: đá Xu Bi) is a reef in the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea located 16 miles (26 km) southwest of Philippine-occupied Thitu Island.

It is occupied by the PRC, and claimed by ROC, Vietnam and the Philippines.

It currently falls under the jurisdiction of Nansha islands, Sansha city, Hainan province, China.

Topography and features

The atoll measures 5.7 km along its longer southwest-northeast axis, and is up to 3.5 km wide. Its total area including the lagoon and rim of the reef measures 16 km², and the lagoon is up to 22 meters deep.[1]

Naturally above water only at low tide, it surrounds a huge lagoon. The People's Republic of China has constructed a 4-story building, a weather observation station with doppler weather radar, wharfs, and a helipad in the area. A buoyed channel guides ships to the inner lagoon which is 3.7 kilometers in diameter.[2][3][4][5]

Population

There are 200 Chinese troops on the reef.[6]

Ownership disputes

Subi Reef being developed, May 2015

The reef is occupied and controlled by China (PRC)[6] and claimed by Taiwan (ROC), the Philippines, and Vietnam. In July 2012, a large fleet of 30 Chinese fishing vessels arrived at the reef from Hainan.[7][8]

In April 2015, a Philippine Navy aircraft patrolling near the reef received "aggressive action" from a Chinese ship.[9] Also in 2015, the USS Lassen sailed within 12 nautical miles of the reef, prompting the Chinese Foreign Ministry to call the action a "provocation" and they vowed to keep building up in the South China Sea. As per the US Navy, this was a routine "freedom of navigation" exercise. Similar exercises are performed routinely about 12-28 times per year.[10][11]

In September 2015, reports and photographs appeared that indicated China was developing the reef into a military base, comparable to their one at Fiery Cross Reef.[12]

In November 2015, two U.S. B-52 strategic bombers flew in airspace near the area. They were contacted by Chinese ground control, but were allowed to continue their mission undeterred.[13]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Atoll Area, Depth and Rainfall: Zhubi
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  5. ↑ http://news.qq.com/a/20120725/000453.htm Chinese language page with a collection of 10 photos of the reef and Thitu (Pagasa) Island dated 25 July 2012. Pictures 1,3,4&6 show the buildings on the reef; 5 shows a lighthouse, 7-10 show Pagasa.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us-bombers-flew-near-chinese-built-island-in-south-china-sea-pentagon/ar-BBmWhOg?li=AAa0dzB

External links

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