Second Thomas shoal

About Second Thomas shoal: 

• It is a submerged reef (locally known as Ayungin) located in the Spratly Islands, South China Sea.
• The Philippines first took possession of the feature in 1999. The Philippine outpost on Second Thomas Shoal is the BRP Sierra Madre.

What is the issue?

• The Second Thomas Shoal lies about 108 nautical miles (200 km) from the Philippine island of Palawan.
• China claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, including the Second Thomas Shoal, based on the historical and controversial Nine-dash line. China’s claims cut into the EEZs of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia.
• In 2013, the Philippines had filed a case against China with the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, challenging the legality of China’s claims and activities in the South China Sea, including the Second Thomas Shoal.
• The court ruled in favour of the Philippines in 2016, but China rejected the judgment.

Q1: What is the Permanent Court of Arbitration?

It was established by the First International Peace Conference held at The Hague, the Netherlands, in 1899. The objective is “to facilitate the arbitration of international disputes”. It consists of an Administrative Council and an International Bureau.

Source: China and the Philippines announce deal aimed at stopping stop clashes at fiercely disputed shoal