Loaita Cay
{{Short description|Island in the South China Sea}}
{{distinguish|Loaita Island}}
{{Infobox islands
| disputed = yes
| name = Loaita Cay
| type = island
| other_names =
Melchora Aquino Island (Philippine English)
Pulo ng Melchora Aquino (Filipino)
Đảo Loại Ta Tây (Vietnamese)
南鑰沙洲 / 南钥沙洲 Nányào Shāzhōu (Chinese)
| image_name = Đảo Loại Ta Tây.png
| image_caption = Loaita Cay
| pushpin_map = Spratly Islands relief
| location = South China Sea
| coordinates = {{coord|10|43|43|N|114|21|09|E|display=inline,title|name=Loaita Cay}}
| archipelago = Spratly Islands
| country = {{PHL}}
| country_admin_divisions_title = Region
| country_admin_divisions = IV-B - MIMAROPA
| country_admin_divisions_title_1 = Province
| country_admin_divisions_1 = Palawan
| country_admin_divisions_title_2 = Municipality
| country_admin_divisions_2 = Kalayaan
| country1 = {{CHN}}
| country2 = {{PHL}}
| country4 = {{VNM}}
}}
Loaita Cay, also known as Melchora Aquino Island ({{langx|fil|Pulo ng Melchora Aquino}}; {{langx|vi|Đảo Loại Ta Tây}}; Mandarin {{zh|c=南鑰沙洲/南钥沙洲|p=Nányào Shāzhōu|s=|t=}}), is an island in the Spratly Islands.[https://amti.csis.org/loaita-cay/ Loaita Cay on Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative]. It has an area of {{convert|0.53|ha|acres}} and it's located about {{convert|5|nmi}} northwest of Philippine-occupied Loaita (Kota) Island,{{cite enroute|161|2017|13}} just west of the north of Dangerous Ground.[http://www.oceangrafix.com/chart/zoom?chart=93044 NGA Chart 93044] shows the area NW of Dangerous Ground.
The island is administered by the Philippines as part of Kalayaan, Palawan, and is the seventh largest of the Philippine-occupied islands. It is also claimed by the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China (Taiwan), and Vietnam.
Environment
The island is a low, flat, sandy cay, and is subject to erosion. It changes its shape seasonally. The sand build up depends largely on the direction of prevailing winds and waves; it has taken an elongated shape for some years. Like Flat Island and Lankiam Cay, it is barren of any vegetation. No underground water source has been found in the area.
History
On 22 May 1963, a sovereignty stele was rebuilt on Loaita Island by crew members of the three vessels Huong Giang, Chi Lang and Ky Hoa of the South Vietnam.{{cite web |url=http://eastseastudies.org/en/datbase-on-south-china-sea-study/doc_details/67-white-paper-on-the-hoang-sa-paracel-and-truong-sa-spratly-islands-part-2 |title="White Paper on the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands (1975) |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Republic of Vietnam)}}
Presently, the island serves as a military observation outpost, and is guarded by Philippine soldiers stationed at nearby Loaita Island who regularly visit. It is kept under observation from a tall structure on Loaita Island.
The location of this outpost, which the Philippines calls Panata Island, is often misreported as being on Lankiam Cay, to the east of Loaita Island. While reports suggest Lankiam was once a small sandy cay, it appears to have been washed away, leaving only a submerged reef and a small, shifting sand bar. If there was ever a Filipino facility there, it was moved to Loaita Cay and took the name “Panata Island” with it.[https://amti.csis.org/philippines-launches-spratly-repairs/ PHILIPPINES LAUNCHES SPRATLY RUNWAY REPAIRS] Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://amti.csis.org/loaita-cay/ Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative Island Tracker]
{{Spratly Islands topics}}
{{South China Sea}}
Category:Islands of the Spratly Islands
Category:Disputed islands of Asia
{{philippines-geo-stub}}