Mischief Reef

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Mischief Reef

Disputed island Other names: 美濟礁 / 美济礁 Měijì Jiāo (Chinese) Panganiban Reef (Philippine English) Bahura ng Panganiban (Filipino) Đá Vành Khăn (Vietnamese)
Mischief Reef in 2018, after the major PRC land reclamations of 2014–2016
Geography
Location of the major islands in Sansha Legend： Black：Sansha (Pref. seat) Yongxing Pink：Huangyan Green：Yongshu Blue：Meiji Purple：Zhubi Orange：Huayang Yellow：Nanxun Red：Chiguo Brown：Dongmen
Location	South China Sea
Coordinates	9°55′N 115°32′E / 9.917°N 115.533°E / 9.917; 115.533Coordinates: 9°55′N 115°32′E / 9.917°N 115.533°E / 9.917; 115.533
Administered by
People's Republic of China
Province	Hainan
City	Sansha
Claimed by
Philippines
Vietnam
Taiwan

Mischief Reef, also known in Mandarin Chinese: 美濟礁/美济礁; pinyin: Měijì Jiāo; lit. 'Meiji Reef'; Panganiban Reef^[1] (Tagalog: Bahura ng Panganiban); Vietnamese: Đá Vành Khăn, is a reef/atoll surrounding a large lagoon in the SE of Dangerous Ground in the east of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. It is located 250 kilometres (130 nmi) west of Palawan Island of the Philippines.^[2] Activities by the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the mid-2010s have created a large artificial island on the atoll which has included an approximately 2,700 metres (8,900 ft) runway and associated airfield.

Mischief Reef has been occupied and controlled by the PRC since 1995, and is also claimed by the Republic of China (Taiwan), the Philippines, and Vietnam. The PRC performed various reclamation activities at at least two locations on the rim of the atoll in the period from 1995 to 2013, but in the period from the end of 2013 to the end of 2016 a large artificial island of 1,379 acres (558 ha) was created around the majority of the perimeter of the lagoon.^[3]

The reef was the subject of a 2016 tribunal ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.

The area is said^[4] to be rich in as of yet unexplored oil and gas fields.^[5]

History and etymology[]

One source says that Mischief reef was discovered by Henry Spratly in 1791 and was named after the clipper Mischief that sailed regularly in the South China Sea in the 1850s.^[6]

Location and description[]

Mischief reef is located at

9°55′N 115°32′E / 9.917°N 115.533°E / 9.917; 115.533.^[7] It lies 50 nautical miles east of Union Banks.^[8] Mischief reef consists of a large lagoon and rocks that lie above water at low tide.^[9]

Territorial disputes[]

In 1994 and 1995,^[10] China built initial structures on stilts in the area. The Philippine government protested these actions. However, the Chinese government rejected the protest and said that the structures were shelter for fishermen. In 1999, another wave of protests from Manila occurred when China added more structures to Mischief Reef.^[11]

China was also reported to have planted buoys in nearby Sabina Shoal. The Philippines claimed that China had a well-rehearsed routine when laying claim to a new reef: first put down buoys, then build concrete markers. Temporary wooden or bamboo shelters followed, and then permanent structures went up. The Philippines therefore would try to destroy the buoys or markers before China has time to build larger structures.^[11] The Philippines' decision not to destroy the Chinese structures on Mischief Reef has prevented an escalation of the dispute. The Philippines claims that China has always been prepared for armed conflict when challenged, as is evident in China's defense of reefs from Vietnam in the 1988 Johnson South Reef Skirmish which resulted in more than 70 Vietnamese deaths.^[11]

On 11 July 2012, the Chinese Type 053 frigate Dongguan ran aground on the reef, sparking embarrassment for the Chinese government and causing an awkward diplomatic situation. The ship was later towed back to base.^[12]

On 12 July 2016, the tribunal of the Permanent Court of Arbitration concluded that Mischief Reef is, or in their natural condition was, exposed at low tide and submerged at high tide and are, accordingly low-tide elevations that do not generate entitlement to a territorial sea, exclusive economic zone or continental shelf.^[13] The tribunal concluded that Mischief Reef forms part of the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of the Philippines.^[14]

Military development[]

In 2014, land reclamation started inside the rims.^[15] The Philippines filed a diplomatic protest against China after the discovery of their reclamation activities.^[16] By January 2016, work was well advanced on developing a military base with a large harbour and a 2,644 metres (8,675 ft) runway, with the reclaimed land covering 558 hectares (1,380 acres).^[17] A civilian test flight to the runway was conducted by a China Southern Airlines passenger jet on 13 July 2016.^[18]

In late 2016, photographs emerged which suggested that Mischief Reef was armed with anti-aircraft weapons and a CIWS missile-defence system.^[19]

In early 2021, satellite imagery and third party geointelligence analysis confirmed a radome and possible antenna mount, among other construction preparations underway on Mischief Reef.^[20]

Meiji Airport[]

Meiji Airport
IATA: none ICAO: none
Summary
Airport type	Military
Owner	People's Republic of China
Operator	People's Liberation Army Navy
Location	Mischief Reef
Map
Meiji Airport Location of airport in the South China Sea
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 03/21 8,900 2,700 Concrete

See also[]

• Great wall of sand
• Nine-dash line

References[]

Further reading[]

• Meyer, Stanley E. (1996). "Incident at Mischief Reef: Implications for the Philippines, China, and the United States". U.S. Army War College.