View source for Second Thomas Shoal

{{Short description|Atoll in the South China Sea}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox islands
| disputed                   = yes
| type                       =atoll
| name                       = Second Thomas Shoal
| other_names                = Ayungin Shoal ''(Philippine English)''<br/>Bãi Cỏ Mây ''(Vietnamese)''<br/>Buhanginan ng Ayungin ''(Filipino)''<br/>Rén'ài Jiāo 仁爱礁/仁愛礁 ''(Chinese)''
| image_name                 = Second Thomas Shoal - 2014-02-28 - Landsat 8 - 15m.png
| image_caption              = Second Thomas Shoal
| pushpin_map                = Spratly Islands relief
| location                   = [[South China Sea]]
| coordinates                = {{coord|9|44|N|115|52|E|display=inline,title|name=Second Thomas Shoal}}
| archipelago                = [[Spratly Islands]]
| country                    = {{PHL}}
| country_admin_divisions_title = [[Regions of the Philippines|Region]]
| country_admin_divisions    = [[Mimaropa|Southwestern Tagalog Region]]
| 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}}
| country4                   = {{VNM}}
}}

'''Second Thomas Shoal''', also known as '''Ayungin Shoal''' ({{langx|fil|Buhanginan ng Ayungin|lit=sandbank of silver perch}}), '''Bãi Cỏ Mây''' ([[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]]) and '''Rén'ài Jiāo''' ({{zh|c=仁爱礁/仁愛礁}}),<ref>{{cite book |title=Sailing Directions – South China Sea |publisher=UK Hydrographic Office |location=Taunton |url=http://www.ukho.gov.uk}}</ref> is a submerged [[reef]] in the [[Spratly Islands]] of the [[South China Sea]], {{convert|105|nmi|km mi}} west of [[Palawan]], [[Philippines]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Sailing Directions Enroute : Publication 158 – Philippine Islands |year=2013 |publisher=US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)|location=Springfield, Virginia }}</ref> It is a disputed territory and claimed by multiple nations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pacom.mil/Portals/55/Documents/pdf/J06-Sierra%20Madre%20and%20Second%20Thomas%20Shoal.pdf?ver=pLzHUXFTPSsSWX5ElSc8lA%3D%3D|title=TOPIC: Sierra Madre, Second Thomas Shoal, and the U.S. Commitment to Defense of the Philippines |website=pacom.mil|date=February 23, 2023}}</ref>

The reef is occupied by a garrison of Philippine Navy personnel aboard a ship, the [[BRP Sierra Madre|BRP ''Sierra Madre'']], that was intentionally grounded on the reef in 1999 and has been periodically replenished since then.

== History ==
The atoll is one of three named after [[Thomas Gilbert (sea captain)|Thomas Gilbert]], captain of the {{ship||Charlotte|1784 ship|2}}:

*[[First Thomas Shoal]] – {{coordinates|09|19|N|115|56|E}}, South of Second Thomas Shoal.<ref name=NGA93046>[http://www.nauticalchartsonline.com/chart/zoom?chart=93046 NGA Chart 93046] – SE Dangerous Ground</ref>
* Second Thomas Shoal – {{coordinates|09|44|N|115|52|E}}, Southeast of [[Mischief Reef]].<ref name=NGA93046/>
*[[Third Thomas Shoal]] – {{coordinates|10|54|N|115|56|E}}, Northeast of [[Flat Island (Spratly)|Flat Island]] – some distance North of Second Thomas Shoal.<ref name=NGA93045>[http://www.nauticalchartsonline.com/chart/zoom?chart=93045 NGA Chart 93045] – NE Dangerous Ground</ref>

== Geographical location ==
Located south-east of [[Mischief Reef]] ({{coordinates|09|55|N|115|32|E}}), Second Thomas Shoal is near the centre of [[Dangerous Ground (South China Sea)|Dangerous Ground]] in the north-eastern part of the Spratly Islands. There are no settlements north or east of it.<ref name=NGA93046/><ref name=NGA93045/> It is a tear-drop shaped [[atoll]], {{convert|11|nmi}} long, from north to south<ref>{{cite enroute|161|2017|15}}</ref> and fringed with coral reefs.<ref>{{cite web |title= Imagery – Landsat 7 Path 118 Row 53 |url=http://blog.geogarage.com/2013/05/south-china-sea-tension-mounts-near.html |publisher=NASA |accessdate=March 21, 2014}}</ref> The coral rim surrounds a [[lagoon]], which has depths of up to {{convert|27|m}} and is accessible to small boats from the east. [[Coral reef|Drying reef patches]] are found east and west of the reef rim.

==Geographical features==
On July 12, 2016, the [[UNCLOS]] tribunal at the [[Permanent Court of Arbitration]] concluded that Second Thomas Shoal is, or in its natural condition was, exposed at low tide and submerged at high tide and, accordingly, has low-tide elevations that do not generate an entitlement to a territorial sea, exclusive economic zone or continental shelf.<ref name=PCA20130712>{{cite web |title=Award |date=July 12, 2016 |publisher=Permanent Court of Arbitration |url=https://pca-cpa.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/2016/07/PH-CN-20160712-Award.pdf |access-date=July 17, 2016 |archive-date=January 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129031833/https://pca-cpa.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/2016/07/PH-CN-20160712-Award.pdf |url-status=dead }} p.174</ref>

== Territorial claims ==
{{See also|Spratly Islands dispute|Philippines v. China}}

Second Thomas Shoal is claimed by [[China]], the [[Philippines]], [[Taiwan]] and [[Vietnam]].<ref>{{cite book |author1=Robert C. Beckman |author2=Ian Townsend-Gault |author3=Clive Schofield |author4=Tara Davenport |author5=Leonardo Bernard |title= Beyond Territorial Disputes in the South China Sea: Legal Frameworks |date=January 2013 |url= http://www.e-elgar.co.uk/bookentry_main.lasso?id=15237 |publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing |isbn=978-1-78195-594-9 |page=19}}</ref>

The [[Philippine Navy]] maintains a presence of less than a dozen [[Philippine Marine Corps|Marine personnel]] on a {{convert|100|m|abbr=on}} long [[Second World War]] US-built Philippine Navy landing craft, the [[BRP Sierra Madre|BRP ''Sierra Madre'']], which was deliberately run aground at the atoll in 1999, in response to the Chinese reclamation of [[Mischief Reef]].<ref>{{cite news |title= A game of shark and minnow |url=https://www.nytimes.com/newsgraphics/2013/10/27/south-china-sea/ |accessdate= March 21, 2014 |date= October 27, 2013 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first= Michael |last= Cohen |title= Manila monitoring Chinese shoal moves |url= http://www.janes.com/article/12853/manila-monitoring-chinese-shoal-moves |publisher= IHS Jane's Defence Weekly |accessdate=March 21, 2014}}</ref> The Philippines claims that the atoll is part of its [[continental shelf]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2014/03/14/dfa-statement-on-chinas-allegation-that-the-ph-agreed-to-pull-out-of-ayungin-shoal/ | title=DFA statement on China's allegation that the PH agreed to pull out of Ayungin Shoal | publisher=[[Official Gazette (Philippines)]] | work=[[Department of Foreign Affairs (Philippines)]] | date=March 14, 2014 | accessdate=April 9, 2014}}</ref> Parts of the [[Spratly]] group of islands, where Second Thomas Shoal lies, [[Spratly Islands dispute|are claimed]] by China, [[Brunei]], the Philippines, [[Malaysia]] and [[Vietnam]].

=== Standoffs ===
In response to China's occupation of [[Mischief Reef]] in 1994, Philippine president [[Joseph Estrada]] in 1998 decided to "as well put up our own structures". In May 1999, two Philippine ships—the BRP ''Sierra Madre'' and the BRP ''Lanao del Norte''—were intentionally grounded on the shoal. According to Chinese officials' narrative, the Philippines partly complied with China's demand to remove the ships, towing away the BRP ''Lanao del Norte'' but leaving the BRP ''Sierra Madre'' on the shoal.<ref name="Green-etal-2017">{{cite book |last1=Green |first1=Michael |last2=Hicks |first2=Kathleen |last3=Cooper |first3=Zack |last4=Schaus |first4=John |last5=Douglas |first5=Jake |title=Countering Coercion in Maritime Asia: The Theory and Practice of Gray Zone Deterrence |date=May 24, 2017 |publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield]] |isbn=978-1-4422-7998-8 |pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=HQolDwAAQBAJ&pg=170 170-171] |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HQolDwAAQBAJ |access-date=September 11, 2024 |language=en}}</ref> Estrada promised that the latter vessel would also be towed away.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 26, 2024 |title=Letter {{!}} Philippine-China ‘gentleman’s agreement’ on South China Sea is best adhered to |url=https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3260294/china-philippines-gentlemans-agreement-south-china-sea-best-adhered |access-date=May 4, 2024 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref><ref>https://www.manilatimes.net/2023/08/14/opinion/columns/ph-did-promise-to-remove-brp-sierra-madre-from-ayungin/1905253 PRESIDENT Joseph Estrada did promise in 1999 to remove the BRP Sierra Madre, which his Navy deliberately grounded on Ayungin (Second Thomas Shoal). In the instances when the governments of Estrada and later of President Benigno Aquino 3rd were reminded of that commitment by the Chinese, they claimed that technical difficulties prevented them from removing the landing ship, tank (LST) Sierra Madre.</ref> However, the BRP ''Sierra Madre'' served as an informal outpost of the Philippine Navy until 2014, when the Philippines declared it a "permanent installation";<ref name="Green-etal-2017" /> in response, the Chinese government asked the Philippines to remove the grounded ship.<ref>{{cite news |title= China 'posturing' to seize Ayungin – Golez |url= http://www.rappler.com/nation/53374-china-posturing-ayungin-seizure |accessdate=March 21, 2014 |work=[[Rappler]] |date=March 19, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Esmaquel |first=Paterno |title=China digs up details vs PH on Ayungin |url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/53242-china-philippines-stranded-ship-ayungin-consequences |accessdate=March 21, 2014 |work=[[Rappler]] |date=March 18, 2014}}</ref>

Philippine supply ships have avoided Chinese blockades in order to deliver food, water and other supplies to the BRP ''Sierra Madre'' garrison.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-philippines-china-reef-idUSBREA2U02720140331 |title=Philippine ship dodges China blockade to reach South China Sea outpost |last1=de Castro |first1=Erik |last2=Ng |first2=Roli |date=March 31, 2014 |website=www.reuters.com |publisher=Thomson Reuters |accessdate=April 1, 2014}}</ref> PRC coast guard vessels blocked two attempts by Philippine ships to resupply the garrison on March 9, 2014, thus supplies were [[airdrop]]ped to it three days later. Another supply ship with replacement troops successfully reached the atoll on March 29, 2014, by sailing through shallow waters where the PRC vessels, having deeper [[Draft (hull)|drafts]], were unable to follow.<ref>Gomez, Jim, [[Associated Press]], "Philippine supply ship evades Chinese blockade", March 29, 2014</ref> Since then, the Philippine military has been sending relief and provisions by supply boats.<ref name=ABC>{{cite news |last=Campbell |first=Eric |title= Reef Madness |url= http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/content/2014/s4008035.htm |accessdate=May 23, 2014 |newspaper=ABC News |date=May 20, 2014}}</ref>

In 2017, the Philippines [[Presidency of Rodrigo Duterte|under President Rodrigo Duterte]] accepted a [[gentlemen's agreement]] with China to maintain the status quo for the South China Sea while both sides tried to strengthen their relations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 26, 2024 |title=Letter {{!}} Philippine-China ‘gentleman’s agreement’ on South China Sea is best adhered to |url=https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3260294/china-philippines-gentlemans-agreement-south-china-sea-best-adhered |access-date=May 10, 2024 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref><ref>https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN1AV0VS/ China has assured the Philippines it will not occupy new features or territory in the South China Sea, under a new "status quo" brokered by Manila as both sides try to strengthen their relations, the Philippine defence minister said.</ref> Under the status quo agreement, no construction materials would be allowed to fortify the ''Sierra Madre'' to avoid escalations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bautista |first=Jane |title=Duterte's China ‘agreement’ on Ayungin prevented supply of construction material, says his spokesman |url=https://asianews.network/dutertes-china-agreement-on-ayungin-prevented-supply-of-construction-material-says-his-spokesman/ |access-date=May 10, 2024 |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2023, Philippine president [[Bongbong Marcos]] said, "I am not aware of such agreement. If there was, I rescind it as of this moment".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Corrales |first=Nestor |date=August 10, 2023 |title=Pact on Ayungin rescinded, if there’s any – Marcos |url=https://globalnation.inquirer.net/217585/pact-on-ayungin-rescinded-if-theres-any-marcos |access-date=May 10, 2024 |newspaper=[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>https://pco.gov.ph/news_releases/no-existing-agreement-to-remove-brp-sierra-madre-from-ayungin-shoal-pbbm/ “And let me go further, if there does exist such an agreement, I rescind that agreement now,” President Marcos said. PND</ref> A year later, Marcos said he was "horrified" by revelations about the said "gentlemen's agreement".<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 10, 2024 |title=Marcos ‘horrified’ by Xi-Duterte ‘gentleman’s agreement’ on South China Sea |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3258506/south-china-sea-philippines-marcos-horrified-xi-duterte-gentlemans-agreement-status-quo-disputed |access-date=May 10, 2024 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref>

In November 2021 and [[August 2023 Second Thomas Shoal standoff|August 2023]], [[China Coast Guard]] (CCG) vessels used [[water cannon]]s and blocked Philippine supply boats, preventing the boats from delivering essential supplies to the Philippine marines stationed on the ''Sierra Madre''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/18/chinese-vessels-use-water-cannon-to-block-philippines-vessels-from-disputed-shoal|title = Chinese vessels use water cannon to block Philippines vessels from disputed shoal|website = [[TheGuardian.com]]|date = November 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Philippines tells China it will not abandon post in disputed reef |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/china-philippines-south-china-sea-warship-water-cannon-3682521 |access-date=August 10, 2023 |website=CNA |language=en}}</ref> On October 22, 2023, Philippine officials disclosed that Chinese vessels had rammed a Philippine Coast Guard ship and a military-run supply boat on October 17, during a replenishment mission to the ''Sierra Madre''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Philippines says a coast guard ship and supply boat were rammed by Chinese vessels at disputed shoal |url=https://apnews.com/article/south-china-sea-philippines-second-thomas-shoal-64d4fad7bb42b44f991df183fb39fe1d |agency=AP News|date = October 22, 2023}}</ref> [[Second Thomas Shoal laser incident|Earlier in the same year]], a PRC coast guard ship intercepted a Philippine coast guard ship en route to the ''Sierra Madre'' and beamed a green laser light at the latter, which light the Philippine side alleged was "military grade" and caused its crew to suffer from temporary blindness. The incident, which China denied, led to the Philippines' filing of a diplomatic protest. 

In April 2024, China stated it reached an agreement with the Philippines in adopting a "new model" over the disputed atoll; the claim, however, was refuted by Philippine defense secretary [[Gilberto Teodoro]], who said that the Philippines would not enter into any agreements compromising its territorial claims.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/philippines-denies-deal-with-china-over-disputed-south-china-sea-shoal-2024-04-27/|title=Philippines denies deal with China over disputed South China Sea shoal|date = April 26, 2024}}</ref> In June, China's coast guard [[June 2024 Second Thomas Shoal incident|interfered with a new supply mission]] to the Sierra Madre by the [[Philippine Navy]]. A month later, a "provisional agreement" on supply missions had been reached between China and the Philippines as part of efforts to de-escalate tensions, with the details kept secret.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://tribune.net.ph/2024/08/13/phl-china-pact-over-ayungin-shoal-subject-to-review-says-dfa |title=Phl-China pact over Ayungin Shoal subject to review, says DFA |author=Edjen Oliquino |work=[[Daily Tribune (Philippines)|Daily Tribune]] |date=August 13, 2024 |access-date=August 20, 2024}}</ref> On August 20, the day after a clash between the two coast guards occurred near the [[Sabina Shoal]], the Philippine government stated it was considering expanding the provisional agreement covering the Second Thomas Shoal to other areas.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1231566 |title=PH mulls expanding Ayungin Shoal 'provisional arrangement' with China |author=Darryl John Esguerra |work=[[Philippine News Agency]] |date=August 20, 2024 |access-date=August 20, 2024}}</ref>

== Alternate names ==
The Singapore National University Gazetteer,<ref>{{cite web |title=Spratly Islands – Names |url=http://www.cil.nus.edu.sg/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/75967_gazetteer.pdf |work= Gazetteer 75967 |publisher=National University, Singapore |accessdate=December 5, 2016}}</ref> and the US NGA Gazetteer<ref>{{cite web |url= http://geonames.nga.mil/gns/html/cntyfile/pg.zip |title=Spratly Islands Gazetteer |publisher= US NGA }}</ref> list the following as other names for the Second Thomas Shoal:
* [[Filipino language|Filipino]] – Ayungin
* [[French language|French]] – Banc Thomas Deuxième
* [[Mandarin Chinese]] – Ren'ai Jiao
* Other Chinese names – Jen-ai An-sha, Jen-ai Chiao, Jên-ai Chiao, Ren'ai Ansha, 仁愛暗沙, 仁爱礁, 断节
* Other English names – Thomas Shoal Second
* Other names – Duanjie
* [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]] – Bãi Cỏ Mây

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Second Thomas Shoal}}
*[https://amti.csis.org/second-thomas-shoal/ Maritime Transparency Initiative Island Tracker]

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

[[Category:Atolls of the Spratly Islands]]
[[Category:Territorial disputes of China]]
[[Category:Territorial disputes of the Republic of China]]
[[Category:Territorial disputes of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Disputed territories in Southeast Asia]]
[[Category:Disputed atolls]]
[[Category:Kalayaan, Palawan]]