Grierson Reef
Reef
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Grierson Reef (Filipino: Pulo ng Julian Felipe); Sin Cowe East Island (Vietnamese: Đảo Sinh Tồn Đông); Mandarin Chinese: 染青沙洲; pinyin: Rǎnqīng shāzhōu, is a cay on the eastern part of the Union Banks of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. The island has been occupied by Vietnam since 1978. It is also claimed by China (PRC), the Philippines, Vietnam, and Taiwan (ROC).[1][2][3]
Sinh Tồn Đông (Vietnamese)
Julian Felipe Reef(Philippine English)
Pulo ng Julian Felipe (Filipino)
染青沙洲 Rǎnqīng shāzhōu (Chinese)
| Disputed island | |
|---|---|
Grierson Reef | |
  Grierson Reef/Sin Cowe East Island | |
| Other names | Sinh Tồn Đông (Vietnamese) Julian Felipe Reef(Philippine English) Pulo ng Julian Felipe (Filipino) 染青沙洲 Rǎnqīng shāzhōu (Chinese) |
| Geography | |
| Location | South China Sea |
| Coordinates | 9°54′9″N 114°33′51″E |
| Archipelago | Spratly Islands |
| Area | 2.8 ha (6.9 acres) |
| Administration | |
| District | Trường Sa District |
| Commune | Sinh Tồn Commune |
| Claimed by | |
China | |
Philippines | |
Taiwan | |
Geography
The original island (before additional land reclamation) was approximately 160 meters long, 60 meters wide, and surrounded by a sandy shore ranging from 5 to 10 meters in width. The natural land area of the island was approximately 1.6 hectares. Both ends of the island feature sandbars that shift seasonally with wind and wave patterns.[4]
In 2014, Vietnam constructed a seawall around the island and expanded it (210 meters long and 100 meters wide), adding approximately 1.2 hectares of land, bringing the total area of the island to approximately 2.8 hectares. From 2019 onwards major defensive structures were built on the island, such as bunkers, coastal fortifications, and possibly missile pads.[5]
On June 7, 2022, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha inaugurated the Sinh Tồn Đông Pagoda on the island. [6]
Starting in March 2025, Vietnam began land reclamation activities to expand Sinh Tồn Đông Island while dredging a harbor on the southern part of the island.[7]
