Hughes Reef

Hughes Reef

Disputed island Other names: Dōngmén jiāo đá Tư Nghĩa
Map of Union Banks, Hughes Reef to the northeast
Geography
Location	South China Sea
Coordinates	9°55′N 114°30′E / 9.917°N 114.500°E / 9.917; 114.500Coordinates: 9°55′N 114°30′E / 9.917°N 114.500°E / 9.917; 114.500
Archipelago	Spratly Islands
Administered by
People's Republic of China
Claimed by
People's Republic of China

Hughes Reef (Chinese: 东门礁; pinyin: Dōngmén jiāo, Vietnamese: đá Tư Nghĩa) is a reef in Union banks in the Spratly group of islands, South China Sea. It is only above water at low tide.^[1] China has reclaimed land on the reef, bringing its area to 7.6 hectares.^[2]

It lies in the center of Spratlys, is occupied by the People's Republic of China, and has a lighthouse^[3] on top of a two storied Chinese defence outpost on it.^[4]

Geographical features

On 12 July 2016, the tribunal of the Permanent Court of Arbitration concluded that Hughes 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.^[5]

See also

• Great wall of sand
• Nine-dotted line

References

Spratly Islands
Related articles	Spratly Islands dispute Dangerous Ground Great wall of sand History of the Spratly Islands List of maritime features in the Spratly Islands Philippines and the Spratly Islands Republic of Morac-Songhrati-Meads Territorial disputes in the South China Sea Nine-dash line
Confrontations	Southwest Cay incident (1975) Johnson South Reef skirmish (1988)
Military occupations	China Cuarteron Reef Fiery Cross Reef Gaven Reefs Hughes Reef Johnson South Reef Mischief Reef Subi Reef Malaysia Ardasier Reef Dallas Reef Erica Reef Investigator Shoal Louisa Reef Mariveles Reef Swallow Reef Philippines Thitu Island West York Island Northeast Cay Nanshan Island Loaita Island Flat Island Lankiam Cay Irving Reef Second Thomas Shoal Taiwan Taiping Island Zhongzhou Reef Vietnam Spratly Island Southwest Cay Sin Cowe Island Sand Cay Namyit Island Amboyna Cay Collins reef Ladd Reef Cornwallis South Reef