Half Moon Shoal

Half Moon Shoal
Disputed atoll
Half Moon Shoal
Half Moon Shoal
Other names	Hasa Hasa Shoal (Philippine English) Buhanginan ng Hasa Hasa (Filipino) 半月礁 Bànyuè Jiāo (Chinese)
Geography
Location	South China Sea
Coordinates	8°52′N 116°16′E / 8.867°N 116.267°E / 8.867; 116.267 (Half Moon Shoal)
Archipelago	Spratly Islands
Administration
Philippines
Municipality	Kalayaan, Palawan
Claimed by
China
Philippines

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.^[6]

References

^ Admiralty Sailing Directions - South China Sea. Taunton, UK: UKHO (United Kingdom Hydrographic Office). 1 July 2013.
^ Austin Ramzy (24 July 2012). "China's Newest City Raises Threat of Conflict in South China Sea". Time. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
^ 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.
^ Mogato, Manuel; Blanchard, Ben (7 May 2014). "Tensions surge in S. China Sea as Philippines seizes Chinese boat". Reuters. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
^ "PH arrests 11 Chinese fishermen off Palawan".
^ "PHL Navy frigate ran aground in West Philippine Sea". GMA News. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.

Spratly Islands

Confrontations

Regions

Occupied features

Brunei	Louisa Reef
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 Mariveles Reef Swallow Reef
Philippines	Commodore Reef Flat Island Irving Reef Lankiam Cay Loaita Cay Loaita Island Nanshan Island Northeast Cay Second Thomas Shoal Thitu Island West York Island
Taiwan	Taiping Island Zhongzhou Reef
Vietnam	Alison Reef Amboyna Cay Barque Canada Reef Bombay Castle Central London Reef Collins Reef Cornwallis South Reef Discovery Great Reef East London Reef Grierson Reef Ladd Reef Lansdowne Reef Namyit Island Pearson Reef Petley Reef Sand Cay Sin Cowe Island South Reef Southwest Cay Spratly Island Tennent Reef West London Reef

Unoccupied features

South China Sea

Pratas Island

Pratas Island
North Vereker Bank
South Vereker Bank

Paracel Islands

Amphitrite Group	Rocky Island Tree Island West Sand Woody Island Qilian Yu
Crescent Group	Money Island Robert Island Yagong Island
Other features	Bombay Reef Triton Island

Northeastern SCS

Spratly Islands

Dangerous
Ground

NW	North Danger Reef Northeast Cay Southwest Cay Thitu Reefs Thitu Island Subi Reef Loaita Bank Lankiam Cay Loaita Cay Loaita Island Tizard Bank Gaven Reefs Namyit Island Sand Cay Taiping Island Zhongzhou Reef NNW Irving Reef West York Island WNW Western Reef
NE	Flat Island Nanshan Island Reed Tablemount Third Thomas Shoal
SE	Commodore Reef First Thomas Shoal Mischief Reef Sabina Shoal Second Thomas Shoal
SW	Union Banks Collins Reef Hughes Reef Johnson South Reef Sin Cowe Island Ardasier Reef Cornwallis South Reef Dallas Reef Erica Reef Investigator Shoal Mariveles Reef