West London reef (Da Tay reef) is shaped like a filling along the northeast-southwest axis, about 9 km long, 5.5km wide. The creeks divide the reef's rim into four distinct sections. A sandbar emerges with a maximum height of 0.7 m on the eastern reef.[4]
The Vietnamese Navy has stationed at 3 points on Da Tay, named Da Tay Islands (A, B, C), with geographical coordinates (in brackets are the coordinates recorded on the sovereignty stele):
West Reef East Island (Da Tay A Island) is a new sunken island that has been renovated and built into a floating island, the current floating part is entirely coral carcasses taken from the excavation to make a lock, characterized by saline coral sand. Green vegetables on the island are grown in greenhouses. There is an underground tank right under the membrane house floor to collect all rainwater at the roofs and concrete roads to store for irrigation of vegetables and livestock. Trees on the island are grown mainly putat, casuarina.
West Reef East Island has a lock of about 16.5 hectares that can accommodate about 200 fishing boats to avoid storms safely.[11] Besides, there is also a fishery logistics service area, a pilot aquaculture complex (belonging to the East Sea Fishery Service One Member Limited Liability Company, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development). and a supermarket that provides a full range of essential items for fishermen from food, food to necessities. In addition, the island also has 2 storm shelters with a capacity of 2,000 people.[12]
On West Reef East Island, there is "House of Great Unity of Vietnamese Ethnic Groups" built in 2019. In June 2022, Da Tay A Pagoda was inaugurated on the island by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.[13]
West Reef East (Da Tay A) Island, viewed from the southeast
History
Since the end of 1987, the dispution in the Spratly Islands area became tense, China sent many warships to operate in the archipelago area, intending to occupy some coral reefs. The Vietnamese Navy opened the CQ-88 campaign, organized forces and vehicles to keep a number of islands and reefs in the Spratlys.
On December 2, 1987, the HQ-604 ship of the 125th Brigade brought the marines and engineers along with materials to build a class-3 house on West London Reef (Da Tay B Islets).[14]
By the end of November 1987, the living quarters and watch houses were completed. The unit holding West London Reef immediately organized guarding and protecting the island.[15]
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