[1] Until at least the 1990s,[2] it was above the water only during low tide; at other times the reef could be detected by the pattern of breaking waves.

[3] At the end of the 20th century, small sand dunes had developed on the reef making a territorial claim possible (an International Court of Justice judgment in 2012 stated that “low-tide elevations cannot be appropriated").

[4] The development of the dunes could have occurred naturally, but it was rumoured that the island was being built up by Vietnam and China.

[2] On 21 March 2021, about 220 Chinese fishing ships were moored at the reef[5] ostensibly taking shelter due to the sea conditions.

[6] The Philippines considers the reef to be within its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf and protested the Chinese presence.