In Photos: The Development of Johnson South Reef since 1988 By South China Sea: Facts and Legal Aspects Johnson South Reef (9°42’N., 114°17’E.) is located at the SW end of Union Atoll. China started occupying the reef since March 14, 1988 after forcing Vietnam out in a skirmish in which 64 unarmed Vietnamese army engineers were killed (1). Based on Robert Beckman and Clive Schofield’ analysis of satellite imagery and previous studies, it can be interpreted that the nature form of Johnson South Reef is not an island defined by UNCLOS. It is also unclear whether it can be classified as rock or submerged feature. The maximum maritime zone that can be claimed from Johnson South Reef thus is 12 nm territorial sea. Until early 2014 the only man-made feature at the reef was a small concrete platform equipped with VHF/UHF communications facility, search radars, naval guns and anti-aircraft guns, and pier (2), (3). The reef, however, is now turned into a 30-hectare (74-acre) artificial island through a large-scale land reclamation by China, according to satellite imagery analyses by Philippine navy and IHS Jane’s. (3), (4) See more at seasresearch.wordpress/2014/11/07/chinas-land-reclamation-johnson-south-reef/ #SouthChinaSea #Spratlys #China #Vietnam #Japan #ASEAN #Philippines #US
Posted on: Sun, 09 Nov 2014 11:21:33 +0000
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