Disputed island | |
---|---|
Geography | |
Location | South China Sea |
Coordinates | 10°22′42″N 114°28′34″E / 10.3783°N 114.476°ECoordinates: 10°22′42″N 114°28′34″E / 10.3783°N 114.476°E |
Archipelago | Spratly Islands |
Administered by | |
Vietnam | |
Claimed by | |
People's Republic of China | |
Philippines | |
Republic of China (Taiwan) | |
Sand Cay 10°23′N 114°29′E / 10.383°N 114.483°E, also known as Son Ca Island (Tagalog: Bailan; Chinese: 敦谦沙洲; pinyin: Dunqian Shazhou; Vietnamese: đảo Sơn Ca) is a cay in the Tizard Bank of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. With an area of 7 hectares (17 acres), it is the ninth largest, and the fourth largest Vietnamese-occupied, of the Spratly Islands. The island has been occupied by Vietnam since 1974, (first by the Republic of Vietnam, then by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam after 1975). It is also claimed by the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China (Taiwan), and the Philippines.
Part of the Tizard Bank, Sand Cay lies 6.2 nautical miles (11.5 km; 7.1 mi) east of Itu Aba Island, which is occupied by the Republic of China (Taiwan). It is 450 metres (1,480 ft) long, 102 metres (335 ft) wide, and has an elevation of 3.5 metres (11 ft) to 3.8 metres (12 ft) at low tide. There is a 41 metres (135 ft) high light house on the islet. Sand Cay is commonly confused with Sandy Cay which is a sandy shoal (coral reef) near Thitu Island.