The Mystery of China's Victory in the South China Sea: The 1994 Sino-Philippine Battle of Key Island Reveals the Locks of the South China Sea.
In the history of China's modern recovery of islands and reefs in the South China Sea, the successful recovery of Mischief Reef by the Chinese Navy in early 1995 became an important node. Today, Mischief Reef has been upgraded to the largest island in the Spratly Islands, with an area of 566 square kilometers. And behind this reconquest lies the little-known story of the 1994 Battle of the Key Island in China.
Basic facts about South Key Island.
Located at 10°41' N, 114°25' E, South Key Island is on the southernmost edge of the Dominion Reef and about 18 nautical miles south of Taiping Island. The island is round, with a diameter of nearly 300 meters and an area of about 007 km². With a height of 2 meters, it is the lowest island in the Spratly Islands. It is surrounded by coral reefs and is flanked by sea outcropping coral reef rocks.
Nankey Island is China's inherent territory, and its name was announced as Luowan Island in 1935, and it was renamed Nankey Island in 1947. In 1983, China renamed it Nankey Island, which China has always called the "Third Standoff". Nankey Island has long been a fishing base for Chinese fishermen, and there are buildings such as coconut trees, houses, temples and wells. Nam Key Island is not far from Vietnam and was occupied by the French during the French colonization of Vietnam. During World War II, the Japanese army occupied the island in 1943 and was later taken under *** control. In the 50s of the last century, the United States** briefly occupied South Key Island, but abandoned it in 1959. However, in the absence of Taiwanese party troops, the Philippines** invaded and occupied South Key Island in 1968.
The 1994 Sino-Philippine Battle of Key Island and its implications.
Located in the center of the Spratly Islands, Nankey Island is known as the "key to the South China Sea". In 1994, Chinese fishermen had long been harassing themselves by the Philippine Navy because the island and its northern waters were natural bathing beaches. The Chinese Navy conducts routine patrols to protect fishermen's production and asserts sovereignty. Brief skirmishes broke out between the Chinese and Philippine navies over fishing operations and other issues. The Chinese Navy successfully sank two Philippine gunboats and destroyed buildings on South Key Island, including a watchtower. The naval battle left the Philippine Navy in a state of apprehension, and eventually withdrew from South Key Island, giving China de facto control of the waters around South Key Island.
Although the Chinese Navy has achieved de facto control over the waters of South Key Island, China has not stationed troops on South Key Island, considering that the landing of troops on the island may trigger anti-Chinese sentiment in the Philippines and complicate the situation in the South China Sea. The victory in the naval battle had a profound impact on the Philippines, which did not dare to act rashly in the subsequent dispute over islands and reefs in the South China Sea, and turned to so-called international arbitration and US support.
The impact of the victory of the Lock of the South China Sea on China.
The victory in the Battle of South Key Island not only made the Philippines lose its actual control of South Key Island, but also gave it a clearer understanding of China's power. As a result, the Philippines did not dare to act rashly in the face of our smaller tonnage fishery vessels in the 1995 Mischief Reef dispute, and China finally recovered Mischief Reef at the lowest cost. Through continuous investment, Mischief Reef has been upgraded to become the largest island in the Spratly Islands today, and has become the forward position and command center for China to defend its maritime frontiers in the South China Sea and resist the invasion of the Philippines.
Recent satellites** have shown that South Key Island is deserted and overgrown, with no signs of human activity on the island, and no dock facilities or boats docking. The Philippines has not returned to South Key Island since 1994, and both China and the Philippines have avoided new friction on South Key Island. Nankey Island is actually in China's hands, but it has not landed on the island.
Epilogue. Although the story behind Nankey Island is little known, it has played an important role in the history of China's modern recovery of islands and reefs in the South China Sea. The victory in the Battle of South Key Island in 1994 gave the Chinese navy a stronger presence in the South China Sea, and at the same time deterred the Philippines from acting rashly in the ensuing South China Sea disputes. The impact of Nankey Island, which goes beyond the realm of a small island, has become a mystery of China's victory in the South China Sea.
This article provides a detailed review of the history of the 1994 Sino-Philippine Battle of South Key Island, showing the importance of South Key Island and its far-reaching impact on the dispute between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea. The article takes the reader into that little-known historical moment with a clear narrative, profoundly revealing the development of naval warfare and the strategic significance behind it.
First of all, the article provides readers with a basic understanding of the island by introducing the geographical location and historical origins of South Key Island. As part of the Spratly Islands, Nankey Island was once a fishing base for Chinese fishermen, and was once occupied by many countries in the past, and the naval battle in 1994 became a watershed moment for its ownership.
Second, the article provides an in-depth analysis of the 1994 Battle of Nankey Island, especially highlighting the victory of the Chinese Navy in this battle. The Chinese Navy successfully sank two Philippine gunboats, destroyed buildings on South Key Island, and eventually forced the Philippine Navy to withdraw. The battle not only gave China de facto control of the waters around South Key Island, but also had far-reaching consequences for the Philippines in the aftermath of the war, making it dare not act rashly in the South China Sea dispute.
The article also pointed out that although the Chinese Navy actually controlled the waters around South Key Island after the war, in order to avoid triggering anti-Chinese sentiment in the Philippines, China did not set up troops on South Key Island. This decision has made South Key Island an area nominally occupied by the Philippines but in fact controlled by China. At the same time, the Philippines has taken a more cautious approach to China in order to avoid another defeat, which has laid the groundwork for the subsequent development of the South China Sea island and reef dispute.
Finally, the article shows the current situation of South Key Island through the description of recent satellites**. The desolate and overgrown landscape suggests that the Philippines has not returned to South Key Island since 1994. Although de facto control of South Key Island was not achieved through the landing of troops on the island, China has maintained effective control over the area through regular patrols.
Overall, this article vividly reconstructs the historical picture of the Battle of South Key Island, revealing its profound impact on China-Philippines relations in the South China Sea through this little-known story. The article is clearly structured and hierarchical, providing readers with an opportunity to gain insight into the history of China's modern South China Sea island disputes.
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