Flat Island, also known as Patag Island ( fil, Pulo ng Patag;
Mandarin
Mandarin or The Mandarin may refer to:
Language
* Mandarin Chinese, branch of Chinese originally spoken in northern parts of the country
** Standard Chinese or Modern Standard Mandarin, the official language of China
** Taiwanese Mandarin, Stand ...
; vi, Đảo Bình Nguyên), is the second smallest of the natural
Spratly Islands. It has an area of , and is about north of Philippine-occupied
Nanshan Island, both of which are located on the expansive but otherwise submerged Flat Island Bank in the NE of
Dangerous Ground.
It is the sixth largest of the Philippine-occupied Spratly islands and is administered by the
Philippines as part of
Kalayaan, Palawan. The island is also
claimed
"Claimed" is the eleventh episode of the The Walking Dead (season 4), fourth season of the Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, post-apocalyptic Horror fiction, horror television series ''The Walking Dead (TV series), The Walking Dead'', wh ...
by the
People's Republic of China, the
Republic of China
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northeast ...
(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, the shape of a crescent moon for a few years, and the shape of a letter "S". Like
Lankiam Cay, it is barren of any vegetation. No underground water source has been found in the area.
Philippine Occupation
Presently, the island serves as a military observation outpost and is guarded by Philippine soldiers stationed at nearby Lawak Island. The soldiers regularly visit the island, and it is kept under observation from a tall structure on Lawak Island.
In August 2011, the Philippine Navy Seabees (Naval Combat Engineer Brigade) finished construction of a second star shell-like structure which is intended to shelter and protect troops.
The
Philippine Coast Guard constructed 5 lighthouses in the area, and this includes one on Flat Island.
See also
*
Spratly Islands Dispute
*
Policies, activities and history of the Philippines in Spratly Islands
References
External links
Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative Island TrackerGoogle Map of Flat IslandPhoto of Flat Island
showing two structures with Lawak Island in the background
Islands of the Spratly Islands
Kalayaan, Palawan
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