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Context:  China and the Philippines reached a deal to deescalate tensions at the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea.

Details

• It is located approximately 105 nautical miles (195 km) west of Palawan, Philippines.
• It lies within the Philippines’ EEZ (exclusive economic zone).
• The shoal is part of the Spratly Islands, which are subject to overlapping territorial claims by multiple countries, including China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Taiwan.
• It is strategically significant due to its location in the South China Sea, a major maritime trade route rich in natural resources.

Geographical features and location.

• It is a submerged reef in the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea.
• It is a tear-drop shaped atoll, 11 nautical miles (20 km; 13 mi) long, from north to south and fringed with coral reefs.
• The coral rim surrounds a lagoon, which has depths of up to 27 metres (89 ft).
• Drying reef patches are found east and west of the reef rim.

Other Thomas Shoal First Thomas Shoal –South of Second Thomas Shoal. Second Thomas Shoal –Southeast of Mischief Reef. Third Thomas Shoal –Northeast of Flat Island – some distance North of Second Thomas Shoal.

Coral Reefs of the South China Sea.

• The South China Sea (SCS), a marginal sea in the centre of Southeast Asia, is surrounded by ten Asian nations: China, Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia.
• The SCS contains over 250 small islands, atolls, cays, shoals, reefs, and sandbars, most of which have no indigenous people.
• The total reef area is estimated at about 12,000 km2 , or 7% of the world’s total reef surface area.
• Home to an estimated 571 known species of reef corals.

Threats to these Reefs

• The Geopolitical situation hinders the scientific research in this region.
• Over Fishing and use of destructive fishing methods.
• Harvesting of threatened species.
• Shipping: The South China Sea contains the second most used sea lane in the world.
• Oil and gas explorations

Mitigation and Solutions

• Ecologically sustainable fishing.
• Ecologically sustainable tourism.
• Regionally coordinated management arrangements.
• Standardized environmental impact assessment procedures.

Sources:

TheHindu.

PRACTICE QUESTION Q.  Terms like First Thomas Shoal, Second Thomas Shoal, Third Thomas Shoal, often mentioned in news are associated with which of the following Sea or Ocean? A.Mediterranean Sea B.South China Sea C.North Sea D.South Atlantic Ocean Answer B