View source for Commodore Reef

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}{{Use US English|date=July 2022}}

{{Short description|Reef in the South China Sea}}
{{Infobox islands
| disputed                   = yes
| type                       = atoll
| name                       = Commodore Reef
| other_names                = <br/>Rizal Reef ''(Philippine English)''<br/>Bahura ng Rizal ''(Filipino)''<br/>Terumbu Laksamana ''(Malay)''<br/>Đá Công Đo ''(Vietnamese)''<br/>司令礁 Sīlìng Jiāo ''(Chinese)''
| image_name                 = Commodore_Reef_S2-2019.jpg
| image_size                 = 260px
| image_caption              = Commodore Reef
| pushpin_map                = Spratly Islands relief
| location                   = [[South China Sea]]
| coordinates                = {{coord|8|22|N|115|12|E|display=inline,title|name=Commodore Reef}}
| archipelago                = [[Spratly Islands]]
| country                    = {{PHI}}
| country_admin_divisions_title = [[Regions of the Philippines|Region]]
| country_admin_divisions    = [[Mimaropa|IV-B - MIMAROPA]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_1 = [[Provinces of the Philippines|Province]]
| country_admin_divisions_1  = [[Palawan]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_2 = [[Municipalities of the Philippines|Municipality]]
| country_admin_divisions_2  = [[Kalayaan, Palawan | Kalayaan]]
| country1                   = {{CHN}}
| country2                   = {{MYS}}
| country3                   = {{PHL}}
| country4                   = {{TWN}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Peace in the South China Sea, National Territory Secure Forever: Position Paper on ROC South Clina Sea Policy |date=2016|url=https://ws.mofa.gov.tw/Download.ashx?u=LzAwMS9VcGxvYWQvT2xkRmlsZS9XZWJBcmNoaXZlLzE5ODkvUG9zaXRpb24gUGFwZXIgb24gUk9DIFNvdXRoIENoaW5hIFNlYSBQb2xpY3kgKGlsbHVzdHJhdGVkIHBhbXBobGV0IFBERikucGRm&n=UG9zaXRpb24gUGFwZXIgb24gUk9DIFNvdXRoIENoaW5hIFNlYSBQb2xpY3kgKGlsbHVzdHJhdGVkIHBhbXBobGV0IFBERikucGRm&icon=.pdf |publisher=ROC Ministry of Foreign Affairs |access-date=28 December 2021}}</ref>
| country5                   = {{VNM}}
}}

'''Commodore Reef''', also known as '''Rizal Reef''' ({{lang-fil|Bahura ng Rizal}}; {{lang-ms|Terumbu Laksamana}}; {{lang-vi|Đá Công Đo}}; [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]] {{zh|t=|s=|p=Sīlìng Jiāo|c=司令礁}}),<ref>{{cite book |last1=Wu |first1=Shicun |last2=Zou |first2=Keyuan |title=Non-Traditional Security Issues and the South China Sea: Shaping a New Framework for Cooperation |date= 2016 |publisher=Routledge |isbn= 9781317086888 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=zxs3DAAAQBAJ&pg=PT111 |access-date= 3 June 2017 |language=en}}</ref> is a [[atoll]] located in the southeast of [[Dangerous Ground (South China Sea)|Dangerous Ground]] in the [[Spratly Islands]] in the [[South China Sea]]. It is located east of the [[Ardasier Reef]] and [[Investigator Shoal]], {{convert|117.9|mi}} NE of [[Swallow Reef]] and {{convert|167.1|mi}} SE of [[Cuarteron Reef]].<ref>[http://www.oceangrafix.com/chart/zoom?chart=93046 NGA Chart 93046], oceangrafix.com</ref> The rock has been legally declared a rock.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Commodore Reef |url=https://amti.csis.org/commodore-reef/ |website=Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative |publisher=Center for Strategic and International Studies |location=Washington, DC}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Mangosing |first=Frances |date=23 April 2020 |title=Wescom says Chinese warship readied guns vs PH Navy ship in PH territory |url=https://globalnation.inquirer.net/187078/wescom-says-chinese-warship-readied-guns-vs-ph-navy-ship-in-ph-territory |website=Inquirer.net}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Vicedo |first=Christian |date=18 May 2020 |title=Assessing China's Assertiveness at Commodore Reef |url=https://thediplomat.com/2020/05/assessing-chinas-assertiveness-at-commodore-reef/ |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=The Diplomat |language=en-US}}</ref> 

It is one of the areas in the Spratly Islands occupied by the [[Philippines]].<ref>{{cite news |title= Chinese creeping into Rizal Reef |url=http://www.manilatimes.net/chinese-creeping-into-rizal-reef/193399/ |access-date=3 June 2017 |work=www.manilatimes.net |publisher=Manila Times |date=19 June 2015}}</ref> It appears as two [[atoll]]s joined by a reef.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hancox |first1=D. J. |last2=Prescott |first2=John Robert Victor |title=A Geographical Description of the Spratly Islands and an Account of Hydrographic Surveys Amongst Those Islands |date=1995 |publisher=IBRU |isbn=9781897643181 |page=19 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7Qu9fi-luTYC&pg=PA19 |access-date=3 June 2017 |language=en}}</ref> On the central reef flat, a number of man-made structures are visible within a 25m × 25m area.<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://cil.nus.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Commodore-Reef-Final.pdf |title=Commodore Reef |date= |publisher=National University of Singapore: Centre for International Law}}</ref>

On 17 February 2020, a [[Philippine Navy]] [[corvette]], the [[BRP Conrado Yap (PS-39)|BRP ''Conrado Yap'' (PS-39)]] encountered the [[People's Liberation Army|PLA]] Navy's ([[People's Liberation Army Navy|PLAN]]) [[Type 056 corvette|Type 056A ''Jiangdao'']] [[corvette]] CNS Liupanshui ([[hull number]] 514) while conducting a patrol mission near Commodore Reef. The Chinese vessel reportedly announced "The [[Government of China|Chinese government]] has indisputable sovereignty over the [[South China Sea]], its islands and its adjacent waters" and, according to a [[Armed Forces of the Philippines|Philippine military]] official, aimed the [[Fire-control system|fire control system]]'s Type IR-17 [[Optoelectronics|optoelectronic]] sensors at the Philippine vessel.<ref name=":1" /> Doubt has been cast on the official's claim as the <u>[[Philippine Navy]]</u>'s Joint Task Force West notes the [[BRP Conrado Yap (PS-39)|BRP ''Conrado Yap'']], despite being tagged as the Navy's "most powerful warship", does not have the requisite [[Electronic warfare support measures|electronic support measures]] ([[Electronic warfare support measures|ESM]]) to confirm the aiming or status of the Chinese vessel's [[Fire-control system|fire control system]].<ref name=":0" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Commodore Reef}}
* [https://amti.csis.org/commodore-reef/ Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative Island Tracker]

{{Spratly Islands topics}}
{{South China Sea}}

[[Category:Atolls of the Spratly Islands]]
[[Category:Atolls of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Kalayaan, Palawan]]
[[Category:Disputed atolls]]

{{philippines-geo-stub}}