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| Disputed reef | |
|---|---|
 Hughes Reef | |
  Hughes Reef | |
| Other names | 東門礁 / 东门礁 Dōngmén Jiāo(Chinese) đá Tư Nghĩa(Vietnamese) |
| Geography | |
| Location | South China Sea |
| Coordinates | 9°55′N114°30′E / 9.917°N 114.500°E /9.917; 114.500 |
| Archipelago | Spratly Islands |
| Administration | |
| Province | Hainan |
| City | Sansha |
| Claimed by | |
Hughes Reef (MandarinChinese:東門礁/东门礁;pinyin:Dōngmén Jiāo,Vietnamese:đá Tư Nghĩa) is a reef inUnion Banks in theSpratly group of islands,South China Sea claimed by thePRC (China), theROC (Taiwan), thePhilippines,Malaysia, andVietnam. It is only above water at low tide.[1]
ThePRC hasreclaimed land on the reef, bringing its area to 7.6 hectares, and occupied the reef.[2] The reef has a lighthouse[3] on top of a two storied defence outpost.[4]
On 12 July 2016, the tribunal of thePermanent Court of Arbitration concluded that Hughes Reef is, or in its natural condition was, exposed at low tide and submerged at high tide and, accordingly, its low-tide elevations do not generate an entitlement to a territorial sea, exclusive economic zone or continental shelf.[5]
In late 2016, photographs emerged which suggested that Hughes Reef has been armed with anti-aircraft weapons and aCIWS missile-defence system.[6]
