WHITSUN REEF

WHITSUN REEF

Subject : Environment

Context : The Philippines government has claimed that around 220 Chinese boats have been spotted at a reef in the South China Sea waters controlled by Manila.

Concept :

• It urged China to recall the boats saying the presence of the vessels violated Manila’s maritime rights by encroaching into the Philippines’ sovereign territory.
• The boats are believed to be manned by Chinese maritime militia personnel. The boats were spotted on March 7 at the Whitsun Reef, which Manila calls the Julian Felipe Reef.

Whitsun Reef

• Whitsun Reef (also known as Whitsum Reef, Whitson Reef, in Mandarin Chinese) is a reef at the northeast extreme limit of the Union Banks in the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea.
• It is the largest reef of the Union Banks.