Second Thomas Shoal

The atoll is one of three named after Thomas Gilbert, captain of the Charlotte:

• First Thomas Shoal – 09°19′N 115°56′E / 9.317°N 115.933°E / 9.317; 115.933 (South of Second Thomas Shoal)^[4]
• Second Thomas Shoal – 09°44′N 115°52′E / 9.733°N 115.867°E / 9.733; 115.867 (Southeast of Mischief Reef)^[4]
• Third Thomas Shoal – 10°54′N 115°56′E / 10.900°N 115.933°E / 10.900; 115.933 (Northeast of Flat Island – some distance N of Second Thomas Shoal)^[5]

Located south-east of Mischief Reef (09°55′N 115°32′E / 9.917°N 115.533°E / 9.917; 115.533), Second Thomas Shoal is near the centre of Dangerous Ground in the north-eastern part of the Spratly Islands; there are no settlements north or east of it.^[4][5] It is a tear-drop shaped atoll, 11 nautical miles (20 km; 13 mi) long north–south^[6] and fringed with coral reefs.^[7] The coral rim surrounds a lagoon which has depths of up to 27 metres (89 ft) and is accessible to small boats from the east. Drying reef patches are found east and west of the reef rim.

On 12 July 2016, the UNCLOS tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration concluded that Second Thomas Shoal is, or in its natural condition was, exposed at low tide and submerged at high tide and, accordingly, has low-tide elevations that do not generate an entitlement to a territorial sea, exclusive economic zone or continental shelf.^[8]

Second Thomas Shoal is claimed by China, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.^[9]

The Philippine navy maintains a presence of less than a dozen Marine personnel on the 100 m (330 ft) long Second World War US-built Philippine Navy landing craft Sierra Madre, which was deliberately run aground at the atoll in 1999 in response to the Chinese reclamation of Mischief Reef, ^[10][11] reportedly without President Estrade's approval.^[12] The Philippines claims that the atoll is part of its continental shelf,^[13] while parts of the Spratly group of islands, where Second Thomas Shoal lies, are claimed by China, Brunei, the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam.

Philippine supply ships subsequently avoided Chinese blockades in order to deliver food, water and other supplies to the garrison.^[14] PRC coast guard vessels blocked two attempts by Philippine ships to resupply the garrison on March 9, 2014. Supplies were airdropped to the garrison three days later. A supply ship with replacement troops successfully reached the atoll on March 29, 2014 by sailing through shallow waters where the PRC vessels, having deeper drafts, were unable to follow.^[15] Since then, the Philippine military has been sending relief and provisions by supply boats.^[16]

In 1999, president Joseph Estrada promised that the vessel would be towed away.^[17] In 2014, the Chinese government asked the Philippines to remove the grounded ship.^[18][19] The Philippine president Bongbong Marcos said in 2023, “I am not aware of such agreement. If there was, I rescind it as of this moment.”^{[20] [21] [22]} The agreement was reflected in confidential official memoranda by DFA officials.^{[23] [24]}

In 2017, China and the Philippines established a gentleman's agreement that status quo should be maintained for the South China Sea, the Philippine defence minister said the status quo brokered by the Philippines as both sides tried to strengthen their relations.^[25][26] Under the status quo agreement, no construction materials are allowed to fortify Sierra Madre.^[27]

In November 2021, China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels used water cannons and blocked two Philippine supply boats, preventing the boats from delivering essential supplies to the Philippine marine forces stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre.^[28] On 6 August 2023, Chinese Coast Guard ships fired water cannon at a Philippine Coast Guard ship resupplying the Sierra Madre.^[29] The Navy-operated boat carried food, water and repair material for Sierra Madre.^[30] On 22 October 2023, Philippine officials disclosed that Chinese vessels had rammed a Philippine Coast Guard ship and military-run supply boat on 17 October during a replenishment mission to the Sierra Madre.^[31]

In April 2024, Philippines’ Marcos said he was ‘horrified’ by Xi-Duterte secret ‘gentleman’s agreement’ for status quo in disputed waters.^[32][33]

In April 2024, China claimed to have reached an agreement with the Philippines in adopting a "new model" over the disputed atoll. The claim was subsequently refuted by the Philippines, with defense secretary Gilberto Teodoro stating that the Philippines would not enter into any agreements compromising its territorial claims.^[34]

The Singapore National University Gazetteer (Number 75967),^[35] and the US NGA Gazetteer^[36] list the following as other names for the Second Thomas Shoal:

• Filipino – Ayungin
• French – Banc Thomas Deuxième
• Mandarin Chinese – Ren'ai Jiao
• Other Chinese names – Jen-ai An-sha, Jen-ai Chiao, Jên-ai Chiao, Ren'ai Ansha, 仁愛暗沙, 仁爱礁, 断节
• Other English names – Thomas Shoal Second
• Other names – Duanjie
• Vietnamese – Bãi Cỏ Mây

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Second Thomas Shoal.

• Maritime Transparency Initiative Island Tracker