Amboyna Cay

Amboyna Cay

Map of the Spratly islands
showing Amboyna Cay
Amboyna Cay

Location in the South China Sea

Geography
Coordinates 7°53′00″N 112°55′01″E / 7.88333°N 112.917°E / 7.88333; 112.917Coordinates: 7°53′00″N 112°55′01″E / 7.88333°N 112.917°E / 7.88333; 112.917
7°53′00″N 112°55′01″E / 7.88333°N 112.917°E / 7.88333; 112.917
Archipelago Spratly Islands
Area 1.6 ha (4.0 acres)
Administration

Amboyna Cay or An Bang Island (Tagalog: Lagos; Chinese: 安波沙洲; pinyin: Anbo Shazhou; Vietnamese: Đảo An Bang; Malay: Pulau Amboyna Kecil) is an island of the Spratly Islands group in the South China Sea. With an area of 1.6 hectares, it is the thirteenth largest Spratly island and the sixth largest among the Vietnamese-occupied Spratly islands.

View from Amboyna Cay

The island has two parts: the east part consists of sand and coral, and the west part is covered with guano. It has a fringing reef. An obelisk, about 2.7 m high, stands on the SW corner. There is little vegetation. It is described by some as heavily fortified.[1] A lighthouse has been operational on the island since May 1995.

The island is also claimed by the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China (Taiwan), the Philippines and Malaysia.

Recent history

Vietnamese guards on Amboyna Cay

On 1978, the Royal Malaysian Navy landed on the island and placed markers. However, the markers were subsequently destroyed by Vietnam who now occupies the island.[2]

On March 31, 1979, forces occupying the Cay fired warning shots on a boat transporting six Amateur radio operators ("hams') attempting a Dxpedition to Amboyna Cay.

In 1982, a Singapore yacht operated by the owner and his wife transporting four German hams on a DXpedition to Amboyna Cay was fired upon by Vietnamese forces. One of the hams, Diethelm Mueller, was hit by an artillery round and fell overboard. The yacht burned and the rest of the party drifted for 11 days on debris. Another ham, Gero Band, died of thirst the day before the survivors were rescued by a passing Japanese freighter which took them to Hong Kong.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Digital Gazetter of Spratly Islands". Archived from the original on 21 March 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-22.
  2. ↑ Joshua Ho; Sam Bateman (15 February 2013). Maritime Challenges and Priorities in Asia: Implications for Regional Security. Routledge. pp. 74–. ISBN 978-1-136-29820-2.
  3. ↑ "The Spratly Islands DXpedition Gets Wings". arrl.org. November 30, 2010.
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