Zhongsha

alternative Chungsha · alternative Chung-sha · alternative Jhongsha

1. A collection of areas in the South China Sea, including Macclesfield Bank, Scarborough Shoal, Truro Shoal, and other areas claimed by China (PRC) and Taiwan (ROC); some of these areas are claimed by the Philippines.First known use 20th c.

   Scarborough is special because it is the only above-water feature in China’s claimed Zhongsha Islands. The Philippines forced Chinese ships away, tore down Chinese markers, and placed its flag on contested areas.

   2003, Jean-Marc F. Blanchard, “Maritime Issues in Asia: The Problem of Adolescence”, in Muthiah Alagappa, editor, Asian Security Order: Instrumental and Normative Features, Stanford, Cali.: Stanford University Press, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 438

   5 more examples

   The Zhongsha Islands, situated to the southeast of the Xisha, are composed of more than 20 reefs and shoals. The Nansha Islands contain more than 100 islets, reefs, shoals and sand bars studding the vast southern sea area south of the Zhongsha Islands.

   地理

   1983, China Handbook Editorial Committee [《中国手册》编辑委员会], “Territory”, in Liang Liangxing, transl., Geography [地理] (China Handbook Series), 1st edition, Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 11

   The shoals and reefs of Zhongsha (or the Macclesfield Bank) do not emerge even at low water. It does, however, serve as a mid-sea anchorage area. The Chinese (and Taiwanese) assumption of territoriality—even to the extent of naming the submerged formations—provides a reference point for contiguous water and seabed claims.

   1987, Donald E. Weatherbee, “The South China Sea: From Zone of Conflict to Zone of Peace?”, in Lawrence E. Grinter, Young Whan Kihl, editors, East Asian Conflict Zones: Prospects for Regional Stability and Deescalation, St. Martin's Press, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 126

   3. Zhongsha Island. There are many sandbanks scattered far and wide on Zhongsha Island; they start in the south at latitude 15°24’N and terminate at latitude 16°15’N; in the west they start at longitude 113°40’E and terminate at longitude 114°47’E. Many coral reefs are submerged, some 10-20 m deep. Although the Zhongsha Island is submerged at present, it may come to the surface in a few years’ time and become a proper island and shoal, for the coral is rising with formidable rapidity, sometimes by one metre a year.

   1990 August, Paul K.I. Chao, The Changing Geography of China: A Synoptic View, Hong Kong: The Commercial Press, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 120

   In addition, the ROC maintains a historical claim to four groups of islands scattered over a vast area in the South China Sea that is surrounded by rich fishing grounds and gas and oil deposits. These are the Dongsha (Pratas) Islands 東沙群島, the Nansha (Spratly) Islands 南沙群島, the Xisha (Paracel) Islands 西沙群島, and the Zhongsha Islands (Macclesfield Bank) 中沙群島.

   2011, “Geography”, in The Republic of China Yearbook 2011, New Taipei: Government Information Office, →ISBN, →OCLC, pages 24–25

   A 1916 Philippines Supreme Court decision over a shipwreck on Scarborough Shoal bolsters Manila's territorial claim to the reef, which China also claims, a maritime law expert says.[…] Furthermore, a 1916 court case in Manila pre-dated China's official inclusion of the shoal as part of what it calls the Zhongsha Islands in 1935, Batongbacal said. The 1916 case involved S.S. Nippon, a Swedish cargo ship which ran aground on the shoal on May 8, 1913, as it sailed from Manila to Singapore.

   2012 July 19, Raissa Robles, quoting Jay Batongbacal, “'1916 court case shows Manila owned shoal'”, in South China Morning Post, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 30 Dec 2020

   Synonyms: Macclesfield Bank