North Reef, Spratly Islands

North Danger Reef (Vietnamese: Cụm Song Tử) () is one of the seven major reefs / banks / etc. in the Spratly Islands area of the South China Sea. It is the most North Western of the features of the Spratly Islands, located to the NW of Dangerous Ground.

The reef is a large (8.5 nautical miles) approximately circular atoll with a central lagoon (~20m deep). The surrounding reef is shallow.

History

Fishermen from Champa were likely the first people to discover the reef. However, later on, the Vietnamese would show interest for the reef.

From the 15th century onward, Vietnamese kings began to pay attention to the islands in the South China sea.

In 1776, Le Quy Don wrote at Phu Bien Tap Luc about these islands, as well as the establishment and operation of the Paracel fleet (Vietnamese: Hải Đội Hoàng Sa) and the Northern fleet (Vietnamese: Hải Đội Bắc Hải) of Vietnam.

In 1838, Emperor Minh Mang of Nguyễn dynasty Vietnam ordered the measurement and illustration of a map for the area. It was called the " Dai Nam Nhat Thong Toan Do", in which it claimed the Spratly and Paracel Islands for Vietnam during Nguyễn dynasty era.

When Vietnam was a French colony under French Indochina, the French Government continued to manage North Danger Reef along with the Paracel and Spratly Islands.

In 1935, China announced its claims and named the North Danger Reef. It is called: "Gemini" (Chinese: 双子群礁).

In 1954, the French government officially returned North Danger Reef with the entire Spratly and Paracel Islands to the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam).

In 1958, the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) Navy built milestones of sovereignty on Southwest Cay and Northeast Cay.

In 1970, the Philippine Navy occupied Southwest Cay.

In 1975, the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) Navy recaptured Southwest Cay through foul play via sending Vietnamese prostitutes for an occasion, despite being allies in the Vietnam War, to lure Philippine Navy soldiers to temporarily leave the island for Northeast Cay while in a storm. When the weather cleared, the returning soldiers were surprised to find that there was now a company of South Vietnamese soldiers on the island.

At present, Vietnamese troops are managing Southwest Cay. And the Philippines occupies Northeast Cay.

Features of North Danger Reef

Commencing in the NE and travelling anti-clockwise to the SW:
* North Reef ()
**North Pass
*Northeast Cay () - light on NE side
* Shira Islet
**Middle Pass
*Southwest Cay () - marked by a light
**West Pass - N
* Jenkins Patches
**West Pass - S
*South Reef () - SW of the Reef
**South Pass
Continuing anti-clockwise to the East and NE:
* Sabine Patches
*Farquharson Patches
**East Pass
*Day Shoal - NE of reef
* Iroquois Ridge - central N of reef

See also

*List of maritime features in the Spratly Islands

References

NGA Chart 93044
shows the area NW of Dangerous Ground
NGA Chart 93042
shows the detail of North Danger Reef

{{South China Sea

Reefs of the Spratly Islands