Sand Cay
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Sand Cay, also known as Bailan Island (Template:Langx) and Son Ca Island (Template:Langx; Mandarin Template:Zh), is a cay on the north edge of the Tizard Bank of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. With an area of Script error: No such module "convert"., it is the ninth largest, and the fourth largest Vietnamese-administered, of the Spratly Islands. The island has been occupied by Vietnam since 1974 (first by South Vietnam, then by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam after 1975). It is also claimed by China (PRC), the Philippines, Vietnam, and Taiwan (ROC).
Sovereignty
The island has been occupied by Vietnam since 1974 (first by South Vietnam, then by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam after 1975). By the later half of the 20th century, no nation had complete sovereignty on the islands.
Geography
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Part of the Tizard Bank,[1] Sand Cay lies Script error: No such module "convert". east of Itu Aba Island, which is occupied by Taiwan. It is Script error: No such module "convert". long, Script error: No such module "convert". wide, and has an elevation of Script error: No such module "convert". to Script error: No such module "convert". at low tide.[2] There is a Script error: No such module "convert". high light house on the islet.[3] Sand Cay is commonly confused with Sandy Cay which is a sandy shoal (coral reef) near Thitu Island.
In 2022, news reports indicated that the Vietnamese government was engaged in dredging and landfill operations to expand the size of Sand Cay, Namyit Island, and Pearson Reef. The total area of the land reclaimed in these operations was estimated to be 170 hectares (420 acres). [4]
Ecology
Sand Cay has no natural fresh water. The islet's coral sand is covered with a thin layer of fertile humus mixed with guano. The vegetation is mainly Barringtonia asiatica, Ipomoea pes-caprae, Casuarinaceae species and some grasses.[2] In recent years, islanders have cultivated fruit trees such as pomelo, jackfruit, dragonfruit, sugar-apple and guava.[5] Sand Cay is usually visited by seabirds, and its surrounding water is rich with fish, sea snails and sea cucumbers.[2]
See also
- Great Wall of Sand
- List of maritime features in the Spratly Islands
- Spratly Islands dispute
- Truong Sa District
References
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