Half Moon Shoal

Half Moon Shoal

Disputed atoll
Half Moon Shoal
Half Moon Shoal
Other names	Bànyuè Jiāo 半月礁 (Chinese) Buhanginan ng Hasa Hasa (Filipino) Hasa Hasa Shoal (Philippine English)
Geography
Location	South China Sea
Coordinates	8°52′N 116°16′E
Archipelago	Spratly Islands
Claimed by
China
Philippines
Taiwan
Vietnam

Half Moon Shoal, also known as Bànyuè Jiāo (Chinese: 半月礁) and Hasa Hasa Shoal (Filipino: Buhanginan ng Hasa Hasa), is an atoll at the eastern edge of the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea. China, the Philippines, Taiwan (ROC) and Vietnam have competing claims over the atoll. It is located close to Northeast Investigator Shoal and 100 km from Palawan, Philippines.^[1]

Notable incidents

The Chinese frigate Dongguan accidentally ran aground on the shoal during a routine patrol mission on 11 July 2012. It was later towed away by a Chinese salvage ship.^[2][3]

On 6 May 2014, Philippine police arrested 11 Chinese fishermen allegedly poaching sea turtles on board the fishing boat, Qiongqionghai, near the Half Moon Shoal.^[4][5]

On 29 August 2018, BRP Gregorio del Pillar ran aground at the shoal. It was eventually removed from the shoal a few days later.^[6]

References

1. Admiralty Sailing Directions - South China Sea. Taunton, UK: UKHO (United Kingdom Hydrographic Office). 1 July 2013.
2. Austin Ramzy (24 July 2012). "China's Newest City Raises Threat of Conflict in South China Sea". Time. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
3. Jaime Laude (14 July 2012). "China ship runs aground near Phl". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on 4 January 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
4. Mogato, Manuel; Blanchard, Ben (7 May 2014). "Tensions surge in S. China Sea as Philippines seizes Chinese boat". Reuters. Archived from the original on 31 January 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
5. "PH arrests 11 Chinese fishermen off Palawan".
6. "PHL Navy frigate ran aground in West Philippine Sea". GMA News. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.