View source for Loaita Island

{{Short description|Island in the South China Sea}}
{{more citations needed|date=June 2011}}
{{distinguish|Loaita Cay}}
{{Infobox islands
| disputed                   = yes
| name                       = Loaita Island
| type                       = island
| other_names                = <br/>Kota Island ''(Philippine English)''<br/>Pulo ng Kota ''(Filipino)''<br/>Đảo Loại Ta ''(Vietnamese)''<br/>南鑰島 / 南钥岛 Nányào Dǎo ''(Chinese)''
| image_name                 = Loaita Island.png
| image_caption              = Loaita Island
| pushpin_map                = Spratly Islands relief
| location                   = [[South China Sea]]
| coordinates                = {{coord|10|40|N|114|25|E|display=inline,title|name=Loaita Island}}
| archipelago                = [[Spratly Islands]]
| country                    = {{PHL}}
| country_admin_divisions_title = [[Regions of the Philippines|Region]]
| country_admin_divisions    = [[Mimaropa|IV-B - MIMAROPA]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_1 = [[Provinces of the Philippines|Province]]
| country_admin_divisions_1  = [[Palawan]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_2 = [[Municipalities of the Philippines|Municipality]]
| country_admin_divisions_2  = [[Kalayaan, Palawan | Kalayaan]]
| country1                   = {{CHN}}
| country2                   = {{PHL}}
| country3                   = {{TWN}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Peace in the South China Sea, National Territory Secure Forever: Position Paper on ROC South Clina Sea Policy |date=2016|url=https://ws.mofa.gov.tw/Download.ashx?u=LzAwMS9VcGxvYWQvT2xkRmlsZS9XZWJBcmNoaXZlLzE5ODkvUG9zaXRpb24gUGFwZXIgb24gUk9DIFNvdXRoIENoaW5hIFNlYSBQb2xpY3kgKGlsbHVzdHJhdGVkIHBhbXBobGV0IFBERikucGRm&n=UG9zaXRpb24gUGFwZXIgb24gUk9DIFNvdXRoIENoaW5hIFNlYSBQb2xpY3kgKGlsbHVzdHJhdGVkIHBhbXBobGV0IFBERikucGRm&icon=.pdf |publisher=ROC Ministry of Foreign Affairs |access-date=28 December 2021}}</ref>
| country4                   = {{VNM}}
| additional_info  = {{maplink|frane-align=center|frame=yes|plain=yes|center|thumb|type=shape|stroke-width=1|stroke-color=#000000|zoom=14}}
}}
'''Loaita Island''' also known as '''Kota Island''' ({{langx|fil|Pulo ng Kota}}; [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]] {{zh|c=南鑰島/南钥岛|p=Nányào Dǎo|s=|t=}}, and {{langx|vi|Đảo Loại Ta}}), with an area of {{convert|6.45|ha|acres}} -- is the [[List of Spratly Islands by area|tenth largest]] of the naturally-occurring [[Spratly Islands]], and the fifth largest of the Philippine-occupied islands.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=PAO-MIN|first=CHANG|date=1990|title=A New Scramble for the South China Sea Islands|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/42707646|journal=Contemporary Southeast Asia|volume=12|issue=1|pages=20–39|doi=10.1355/CS12-1B |jstor=42707646 |issn=0129-797X}}</ref> It is located just to the west of the northern part of [[Dangerous Ground (South China Sea)|Dangerous Ground]], and is {{convert|22|miles|km}} southeast of Philippine-occupied [[Thitu Island]] ''(Pag-asa)'' and {{convert|22|miles|km}} north-northeast of Taiwan-occupied [[Itu Aba Island]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Thitu Island|url=https://amti.csis.org/thitu-island/|access-date=2021-01-17|website=Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative|language=en-US}}</ref>

The island is administered by the [[Philippines]] as part of [[Kalayaan, Palawan]].

The island is also claimed by the [[People's Republic of China]], the [[Republic of China]] (Taiwan) and [[Vietnam]].

==Environment==
The island fringes the [[Loaita Bank]], [[shoal]]s and [[reef]]s.<ref>{{cite enroute|161|2017|13}}</ref> Its calcarenite outcrop is visible along its western side at low tide. The present shape of the island indicates sand buildup along its eastern side. The anchor-shaped side will eventually connect with the northern portion as the sand buildup continues, thereby creating another mini-[[lagoon]] in the process. The presence of migrating sea birds adds to the high [[phosphorus]] content of the island's sand. Occasionally, giant sea turtles lay their eggs on the island. The island is covered with mangrove bushes, above which rise coconut palms and other small trees.

==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]].<ref>{{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)}}</ref>

Several Philippine soldiers have been stationed on the island since 1968 when the Philippines occupied it. There are only a few structures, which serve as shelters for the soldiers.

The soldiers also guard the nearby [[Lankiam Cay]] ''(Panata)'' which lies about {{convert|8|miles|km}} to the east-northeast. The cay is under observation from a tall structure on the island, and the Philippine soldiers also regularly visit it.

[[Loaita Nan]] and [[Loaita Cay]] ''(Melchora Aquino)'', which are distinct from Kota, lie {{convert|5|miles|km}} northwest and {{convert|1.5|miles|km}} east-northeast. These are unoccupied features, but are also [[List of maritime features in the Spratly Islands#Virtually Occupied and Controlled|largely controlled]] by the Philippines.

==See also==
*[[List of maritime features in the Spratly Islands]]
*[[Policies, activities and history of the Philippines in Spratly Islands]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://amti.csis.org/loaita-island/ Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative Island Tracker]
*[http://www.oceangrafix.com/chart/zoom?chart=93044 NGA Chart 93044] shows the area NW of Dangerous Ground

{{Spratly Islands topics}}
{{South China Sea}}

[[Category:Islands of the Spratly Islands]]
[[Category:Kalayaan, Palawan]]
[[Category:Loaita Bank]]
[[Category:Disputed islands]]

{{philippines-geo-stub}}