Second Thomas Shoal

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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.

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.