title: Sin Cowe Island
text: # Sin Cowe Island
  
  Sin Cowe Island 9°53′7″N 114°19′47″E﻿ / ﻿9.88528°N 114.32972°E﻿ / 9.88528; 114.32972, also known as Sinh Ton Island (Vietnamese: Đảo Sinh Tồn); Rurok Island (Tagalog: Pulo ng Rurok, lit. 'Island of Peak'); Mandarin Chinese: 景宏島/景宏岛; pinyin: Jǐnghóng Dǎo, is an island in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. With an area of 8 hectares (20 acres), it is the seventh largest Spratly island and the third largest of those occupied by Vietnam. It has a fringing reef which is above water at low tide.
  
  This island has been controlled by Vietnam since 1974, first by South Vietnam's ARVN Navy, followed by the Navy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam after 1975. The island is also claimed by China, the Philippines and Taiwan.
  
  It is part of the Union Banks.
  
  ## Topography and Structures
  
  Sin Cowe island is garrisoned by Vietnamese soldiers. The structures on it include a two-storied government building, anti aircraft guns, artillery and a Vietnamese Sovereignty marker.
  
  There is also a civilian population with a school, children's playground, medical station and wind turbines for electricity generation.
  
  