Fast Facts: Panatag Shoal

1734—Year a map showing “Panacot,” the first name of Panatag Shoal, also known as Scarborough Shoal, was published. The map by the Jesuit friar Pedro Murillo Velarde shows Scarborough, off the coast of Zambales province, as part of the Philippines. But as early as 1636, official and unofficial maps of the Philippines show that Scarborough is part of the Philippines.

Bajo de Masinloc—Another name for Panatag. Bajo de Masinloc, a name given to the shoal by the Spanish colonizers, is translated as “under Masinloc.”

Huangyan Dao—Chinese name of Panatag Shoal

124-Distance in nautical miles of Panatag from the nearest coast in province of Zambales. This means that the rocks and features of Panatag are within the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone Philippine archipelago.

472-Distance in nautical miles of Panatag from the nearest coast of China

3—Height in meters above water of some of the rocks in Panatag which is not considered an island but a ring-shaped coral reef with several rocks encircling a lagoon. About five of the rocks in the shoal are above water during high tide. The rest of the rocks and reefs are below water during high tide.

Compiled by Ana Roa, Inquirer Research

Sources: Inquirer Archives, gov.ph

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