Union Banks

Union Banks is a large drowned atoll in the center of Dangerous Ground in the Spratly Islands in South China Sea, 230 kilometres (120 nautical miles)[1] west of the Philippine coast, containing islands and reefs whose ownership remains disputed and controversial.[2] The closest atoll is Tizard Bank, 25 kilometres (13 nautical miles) due north of Union Banks. There are only two natural islands on the rim of the reef, Sin Cowe Island and Sin Cowe East Island.

Map of Union Banks

Vietnamese structure on Collins Reef (Đá Cô Lin)

The atoll is 55 kilometres (34 miles) long from Johnson South Reef in the southwest to Whitson Reef in the northeast, and up to 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) wide. Its total area measures 461 square kilometres (178 square miles). The central lagoon is up to 53 metres (174 feet) deep.[3]

Islands and reefs comprising Union Banks

Union Banks consists of the following islands and reefs, clockwise starting in the southwest corner:[4][5]

Key: yellow = occupied by PRC; violet = occupied by Vietnam

Feature	Location
Johnson South Reef (Chigua Jiao)	09°43′9″N 114°16′57″E
Collins Reef (Đá Cô Lin)	09°46′14″N 114°15′27″E
Gent Reef	09°51′13″N 114°16′47″E*
Đá Tam Trung	09°52′6″N 114°17′3″E
Loveless Reef	09°52′45″N 114°18′21″E
Sin Cowe Island (Đảo Sinh Tồn)	09°53′9″N 114°19′46″E
Edmund Reef	09°53′48″N 114°23′40″E*
McKennan Reef	09°54′12″N 114°27′56″E
Hughes Reef (Dōngmén jiāo)	09°54′51″N 114°29′45″E
Hallett Reef	09°55′55″N 114°31′25″E*
Holiday Reef	09°57′55″N 114°33′53″E
Empire Reef	09°58′44″N 114°35′23″E*
Whitson Reef	10°00′10″N 114°39′58″E
Ross Reef	09°54′25″N 114°35′52″E
Sin Cowe East (Sinh Tồn Đông)	09°54′8.2″N 114°33′50.7″E
Bamford Reef (Đá Vị Khê)	09°53′25″N 114°32′7″E
Tetley Reef	09°52′5″N 114°30′39″E
Grierson Reef	09°51′5″N 114°29′29″E
Jones Reef	09°49′47″N 114°27′57″E
Higgins Reef	09°48′49″N 114°24′12″E
Lansdowne Reef (Đá Len Đao)	09°46′43″N 114°22′14″E

Chigua Jiao (Johnson South Reef)

Đá Cô Lin
(Collins Reef,
Johnson North Reef)

Gent Reef

Loveless Reef

Sinh Tồn (Sin Cowe)

Edmund Reef

McKennan Reef

Dōngmén Jiāo (Hughes Reef)

Hallet Reef

Holiday Reef

Empire Reef

Whitson Reef

Ross Reef

Sinh Tồn Đông (Sin Cowe East)

Bamford Reef

Tetley Reef

Grierson Reef

Jones Reef

Higgins Reef

Đá Len Đao (Landsdowne Reef)

See also

• List of maritime features in the Spratly Islands

References

1. "China expanding presence on Mabini reef". ABS CBN News / Kyodo News. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
2. Dato Mohammad, Brigadier General (1991). The Conflicting Claims in the South China Sea. PA, USA: U.S. Army War College.
3. Atoll Area, Depth and Rainfall, rock.geosociety.org
4. China Sea Pilot - Volume II - NP 31. Taunton: United Kingdom Hydrographic Office. 2012.
5. "Digital Gazetteer of Spratly Islands". www.southchinasea.org. Archived from the original on 2007-07-17. Retrieved 2008-02-08.
   - Version dated 19 August 2011 is available at: "Digital Gazetteer of Spratly Islands". www.southchinasea.org. 19 August 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2014. This list includes the names of all Spratly features known to be occupied and/or above water at low tide.