Siao
Siao is a small, uninhabited island located in the South China Sea, part of the Spratly Islands archipelago. The island is situated approximately 12 nautical miles (22 kilometers) southwest of Mischief Reef and is administered by the Philippines as part of its Kalayaan Island Group. Siao is notable for its strategic location within the contested waters of the South China Sea, an area claimed by several countries, including China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan.
Geographically, Siao is a low-lying coral island with minimal natural resources. Its terrain consists primarily of
The island’s name, "Siao," is derived from the Hainanese dialect, where it translates to "small." Historically,
International law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), has been invoked