Northeast Cay
Encyclopedia
Northeast Cay is the fifth largest Spratly island
and the third largest among Philippine-occupied Spratly islands. Its land area is 12.7 hectares. It is only 1.75 miles (2.82 km) north of Vietnamese-occupied Southwest Cay
(Pugad Island) and it can bee seen before the horizon. It is located 28 miles (45 km) northwest of Philippine-occupied Pag-asa (Thitu) Island
. This island
is administered by the Philippines as part of Kalayaan, Palawan
. Parola is the Tagalog
(adapted from Spanish language
) word for a lighthouse
. This island is also claimed by the People's Republic of China
, Republic of China
(Taiwan) and Vietnam
.
is above water at high tide. It supported a beacon in 1984. It also has guano
deposits.
"Further north still, at the level of Nhatrang, is the atoll named "North Danger" , the Alerte took possession of two sandy islands (cayes) where it found some Japanese fishing. The De Lanessan went there too and explored the little island. The latter is perceptibly higher than the others, the highest point reaching 5 metres. The phosphate beds are considerable and were much exploited by the Japanese."
After possession had been taken, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs published the following notice in the French Journal Officiel dated July 26, 1933 (page 7837)
"Notice concerning the occupation of certain islands by French naval units.
The French government has caused the under mentioned isles and islets to be occupied by French naval units:
----
Group of two islands situated at latitude 111o29' north and longitude 114o21' east of Greenwich, with their dependent isles (36) (Possession taken April 10, 1933).
----
The above-mentioned isles and islets henceforward come under French sovereignty (this notice cancels the previous notice inserted in the Official Journal dated July 25, 1933, page 7784).
In 1939, Japan occupied these islands until the end of World War II.
In 1956, French transferred these islands to South Vietnam.
In 1959, South Vietnam Government renamed "Song Tử" (meaning twin because two islands very similar together) with "Tây" (meaning west) and "Đông" (meaning East) to identify them.They was annexed to Phuoc Tuy province, South Vietnam.
On May 24, 1963, the sovereignty steles were rebuilt on Song Tu Dong (North East Cay) and Song Tu Tay (South West Cay) by crew members of the three vessels Huong Giang, Chi Lang and Ky Hoa of the South Vietnam
.
In 1968, Philippines troop occupied Northeast Cay (Parola Island, Song Tu Dong) and Southwest Cay (Pugad Island, Song Tu Tay). In 1975, Southwest Cay was captured by South Vietnam
and was took over by later unified Vietnam. The Philippines continued to occupying the Northeast Cay until now.
Parola Island can be considered as the second top priority of the Philippines for protection, after Pagasa Island, since it is very near Vietnamese-occupied Pugad Island
. There are only one to two structures in this island that serve as shelters of the soldiers.
Spratly Islands
The Spratly Islands are a group of more than 750 reefs, islets, atolls, cays and islands in the South China Sea. The archipelago lies off the coasts of the Philippines and Malaysia , about one third of the way from there to southern Vietnam. They comprise less than four square kilometers of land...
and the third largest among Philippine-occupied Spratly islands. Its land area is 12.7 hectares. It is only 1.75 miles (2.82 km) north of Vietnamese-occupied Southwest Cay
Southwest Cay
Southwest Cay or Song Tu Tay Island is an islet in the Spratly Islands. With an area of 12 hectares, it is the sixth largest Spratly island and the second largest among the Vietnamese-occupied Spratly islands. It holds the archipelago's highest point, at 4 meters above sea level. It is about 1.75...
(Pugad Island) and it can bee seen before the horizon. It is located 28 miles (45 km) northwest of Philippine-occupied Pag-asa (Thitu) Island
Thitu Island
Thitu Island , having an area of 37.2 hectares is the second largest Spratly Island and the largest of all Philippine-occupied Spratly Islands. It lies about west of Puerto Princesa City...
. This island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
is administered by the Philippines as part of Kalayaan, Palawan
Kalayaan, Palawan
Kalayaan is a 6th class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 114 people in 12 households....
. Parola is the Tagalog
Tagalog language
Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a third of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by most of the rest. It is the first language of the Philippine region IV and of Metro Manila...
(adapted from Spanish language
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
) word for a lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
. This island is also claimed by the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
(Taiwan) and Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
.
Environment
Some of Parola's outcrops are visible on its western side. It has high salinity groundwater and vegetation limited to beach type of plants. The corals around the island were mostly destroyed by rampant use of dynamite fishing and cyanide method employed by non-Filipino fishing boats in the past. It is covered with grass and thick trees. Much of the fringing reefFringing reef
A fringing reef is one of the three main types of coral reefs recognized by most coral reef scientists. It is distinguished from the other two main types in that it has either an entirely shallow backreef zone or none at all...
is above water at high tide. It supported a beacon in 1984. It also has guano
Guano
Guano is the excrement of seabirds, cave dwelling bats, and seals. Guano manure is an effective fertilizer due to its high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen and also its lack of odor. It was an important source of nitrates for gunpowder...
deposits.
History
In 1933, the French Government decided to take official possession of the islands of Spratley include Northeast Cay and Southwest cay. Three ships, the Alerte, the Astrobale and the De Lanessan took part in the expedition. The following are relevant quotations from an account given by H. Cucherousset in L'Eveil economique de l'Indochine (No. 790 of May 28, 1933):"Further north still, at the level of Nhatrang, is the atoll named "North Danger" , the Alerte took possession of two sandy islands (cayes) where it found some Japanese fishing. The De Lanessan went there too and explored the little island. The latter is perceptibly higher than the others, the highest point reaching 5 metres. The phosphate beds are considerable and were much exploited by the Japanese."
After possession had been taken, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs published the following notice in the French Journal Officiel dated July 26, 1933 (page 7837)
"Notice concerning the occupation of certain islands by French naval units.
The French government has caused the under mentioned isles and islets to be occupied by French naval units:
----
Group of two islands situated at latitude 111o29' north and longitude 114o21' east of Greenwich, with their dependent isles (36) (Possession taken April 10, 1933).
----
The above-mentioned isles and islets henceforward come under French sovereignty (this notice cancels the previous notice inserted in the Official Journal dated July 25, 1933, page 7784).
In 1939, Japan occupied these islands until the end of World War II.
In 1956, French transferred these islands to South Vietnam.
In 1959, South Vietnam Government renamed "Song Tử" (meaning twin because two islands very similar together) with "Tây" (meaning west) and "Đông" (meaning East) to identify them.They was annexed to Phuoc Tuy province, South Vietnam.
On May 24, 1963, the sovereignty steles were rebuilt on Song Tu Dong (North East Cay) and Song Tu Tay (South West Cay) by crew members of the three vessels Huong Giang, Chi Lang and Ky Hoa of the South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
.
In 1968, Philippines troop occupied Northeast Cay (Parola Island, Song Tu Dong) and Southwest Cay (Pugad Island, Song Tu Tay). In 1975, Southwest Cay was captured by South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
and was took over by later unified Vietnam. The Philippines continued to occupying the Northeast Cay until now.
Parola Island can be considered as the second top priority of the Philippines for protection, after Pagasa Island, since it is very near Vietnamese-occupied Pugad Island
Southwest Cay
Southwest Cay or Song Tu Tay Island is an islet in the Spratly Islands. With an area of 12 hectares, it is the sixth largest Spratly island and the second largest among the Vietnamese-occupied Spratly islands. It holds the archipelago's highest point, at 4 meters above sea level. It is about 1.75...
. There are only one to two structures in this island that serve as shelters of the soldiers.
See also
- Southwest CaySouthwest CaySouthwest Cay or Song Tu Tay Island is an islet in the Spratly Islands. With an area of 12 hectares, it is the sixth largest Spratly island and the second largest among the Vietnamese-occupied Spratly islands. It holds the archipelago's highest point, at 4 meters above sea level. It is about 1.75...
- Spratly IslandsSpratly IslandsThe Spratly Islands are a group of more than 750 reefs, islets, atolls, cays and islands in the South China Sea. The archipelago lies off the coasts of the Philippines and Malaysia , about one third of the way from there to southern Vietnam. They comprise less than four square kilometers of land...
- Kalayaan, PalawanKalayaan, PalawanKalayaan is a 6th class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 114 people in 12 households....
- Policies, activities and history of the Philippines in Spratly IslandsPolicies, activities and history of the Philippines in Spratly Islands-Overview:The Philippines, along with Vietnam, People's Republic of China, Republic of China , Malaysia and Brunei, is a claimant country in the disputed Spratly Islands group. Currently the Philippines is occupying nine features :As a comparison, Vietnam occupies six islands, seventeen reefs and...