Sin Cowe Island 9°53′7″N 114°19′47″E / 9.88528°N 114.32972°E / 9.88528; 114.32972, also known as Sinh Ton Island[1] (Vietnamese: Đảo Sinh Tồn); Rurok Island (Filipino: Pulo ng Rurok, lit. 'Island of Peak'); Mandarin Chinese: 景宏島/景宏岛; pinyin: Jǐnghóng Dǎo, is an island in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. With an area of 8 hectares (20 acres), it is the seventh largest Spratly island and the third largest of those occupied by Vietnam. It has a fringing reef which is above water at low tide.[2]
| Disputed island | |
|---|---|
Sin Cowe Island
| |
  Sin Cowe Island
| |
| Other names | Sinh Ton Island Đảo Sinh Tồn (Vietnamese) Rurok Island (Philippine English) Pulo ng Rurok (Filipino) 景宏島 / 景宏岛 Jǐnghóng Dǎo (Chinese) |
| Geography | |
| Location | South China Sea |
| Coordinates | 09°53′07″N 114°19′47″E / 9.88528°N 114.32972°E / 9.88528; 114.32972 |
| Archipelago | Spratly Islands |
| Administration | |
| District | Trường Sa District, Khánh Hòa |
| Commune | Sinh Tồn Commune |
| Claimed by | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 31[citation needed] |
This island has been controlled by Vietnam since 1974, first by South Vietnam's ARVN Navy, followed by the Navy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam after 1975. The island is also claimed by China, the Philippines[3] and Taiwan.
It is part of the Union Banks.[4]
Sin Cowe island is garrisoned by Vietnamese soldiers. The structures on it include a two-storied government building, anti aircraft guns, artillery and a Vietnamese Sovereignty marker.[5]
There is also a civilian population with a school, children's playground, medical station and wind turbines for electricity generation.[6]
Chigua Jiao (Johnson South Reef)
Đá Cô Lin
(Collins Reef,
Johnson North Reef)
Sinh Tồn (Sin Cowe Island)
Dōngmén Jiāo (Hughes Reef)
Sinh Tồn Đông (Grierson Reef/ Sin Cowe East Island)
Đá Len Đao (Landsdowne Reef)
The ubiquitous KIG claim by the Philippines carries little legal weight. It stands on the same footing as the nine-dashed-line claim. Also, it was made later than the claims of China, the ROC, and Vietnam.
Photo caption: Teacher and students at the primary school on Sinh Ton island commune.
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