Nanshan Island
Nanshan Island or Lawak Island (Tagalog: Lawak; Chinese: 马欢岛; pinyin: Mahuan Dao; Vietnamese: Đảo Vĩnh Viễn) is the eighth largest Spratly island and the fourth largest among Philippine-occupied Spratly islands. It has an area of 7.93 hectares. It is located 98.0 miles (157.7 km) east of Pag-asa (Thitu Island). This island is administered by the Philippines as part of Kalayaan, Palawan. Lawak is the Tagalog word for vastness or expanse.
Environment
This island is a bird sanctuary. Its surroundings are highly phosphatized that superphosphate materials can be mined out on a small-scale basis. Near the fringes of the breakwaters (approx. 2 miles (3 km) from the island), intact hard coral reefs were observed to retain their natural environment and beautiful tropical fishes were seen colonizing these coral beds of varying colors. It is also covered with coconut trees, bushes and grass. It is 580 m long, on the edge of a submerged reef.
Philippine Occupation
This island is claimed by the China, Taiwan, Vietnam with the Philippines currently occupying it. Several Philippine soldiers are stationed here since 1968, when Philippines occupied this feature. There are only one to two structures in this island that serve as shelters of the soldiers.
The soldiers stationed here are also the guard of nearby Flat Island (Patag Island) which lies 6 miles (10 km) north-northeast of Lawak Island. It is also occupied by the Philippines. That island is too small and manning it 24 hours is a difficult task. Hence, soldiers at Lawak Island guard Patag afar by regularly "watching" it from a tall structure (to increase the horizon distance). They also regularly visit Patag and most of the time it is manned by a soldier who take shed in a small structure built over the island.
See also
- Spratly Islands
- Kalayaan, Palawan
- Policies, activities and history of the Philippines in Spratly Islands