DXCC Changes 1996-1997

Changes from 1996 to 1997 Entities January 1996: Active 327, Deleted: 57, Withdrawn 9 Pratas Island, New DXCC Country (QST April 1996, page 87) Told by K5FUV, Bill Kennamer Pratas Island, administered by Taiwan, is a recent addition to the DXCC list. This island, located at 20, 43 N, 116, 42E, in the South Chines Sea, is roughly 237 miles from Chi Mei Yu, an island just west of Taiwan, and the closest point between Pratas Reef and Taiwan. Pratas Island was first mentioned as a possible DXCC addition in 1982. However, at that time the rules for Point 2(a), addition with an island country “parent” meant that there should be 500 miles between the “parent” and the island. The DXCC Rules rewrite of 1988 corrected an inequity in the rules; the inequity having been that, while island “parents” must be separated from the island by 500 miles, a “parent” on the continent need be separated by only 225 miles. This change in the rules opened the door for several new countries. Quickly, T33 (Banaba), 3D2 (Rotuma) and 3D2 (Conway reef), were added to the list. In 1992, again there was some interest by the Taiwanese in proposing Prats Island. A petition was files in 1993, but was found waiting. In 1994, a new petition was files by the CTARL. After a great deal of discussion, this petition was accepted, and Pratas will be added to the list, with cards being accepted after April 1, 1996. Some of the discussion centered around possible rocks in the area of the Taiwan Banks,. However, a search of Sailing Directions of the South China Sea and several different charts of the highest available resolution failed to produce aby such rocks, and despite efforts to produce charts that would reveal any extant rocks, no documentation of any such rocks existed. The Taiwanese Land Administration and Phil Weaver, VS6CT, acting in his capacity as Search Coordinator for the Director of Marine, Hong Kong Marine Department, both certified that there were no rocks in the area. The first operation occurred in January 1994. That multi-transmitter operation which took place during a stopover by the supply plane, lasted for only four hours and netted 630 QSOs. Another effort in March 1994 provided 10 days operation by CTARL operators. In May 1995, the biggest operation yet occurred when the CTARL group spent another 10 days on the island. This time they were able to allow a group of foreigners to stay overnight on the island as well, and were joined by JH1KRC, JH4RHF and N7NG. It seems that many people have the perception that Pratas is a very small place. Actually,, it is a good sized island, and the concrete runway provides plenty of length for the C-130 aircraft that supplies the island on a regular basis. Several thousand people live on the island, and a wayward fisherman might find a room for the fisherman’s shelter, should he be caught in a storm. The South China Sea Fishing Tournament has been held there several times. Although there is a large group of permanent residents, there is no ham in residence on the island at the present time. THe DXAC in business Did the DXCC Searchers stop looking for new Entities? No of course not. The DXAC found Pratas island (BV9P). Pratas island is claimed by China but are governed by Taiwan. Point 2a was the rule that the islands were added as new Entity on the DXCC list Pratas island (or Tungsha Island) is the largest of the South China Sea Islands. QSOs with Pratas Island (BV9P) count from January 1, 1994 for DXCC Scarborough Reef, another NEW DXCC Country (QST April 1996, page 87) Told by K5FUV, Bill Kennamer Scarborough Reef, a possession of the People’s Republic of China, was added to the DXCC Countries List at the January Board of Directors meeting. This island is located in the South China Sea at 15°07′N 117°45′E about 125 miles west of Subic Bay in the Philippines, and about 350 miles east of the Paracel islands. Although about 20 miles in circumference, Scarborough is mostly awash at high tide. On the southwest corner is a group of rocks, about 40 in number. This rocks are above high tide at all times. However, none of these rocks is of any great size. After the 1988 rules change, Hans Hanappel, DK9KX, spent many hours searching charts, hoping to find an island od two that might now qualify under the rules. He found a couple, ant put them on the shelf for later consideration. His first interest was in the Penguin Islands, and he turned his interest to Scarborough afterward. The first petition was files in late 1993. In April 1994, Martti Laine, OH2BH, made an overflight of the area. In June 1994, he, in company with Chen Ping, BA1HAM, led an international group to Scarborough for the first time. The operators had conferred with the DXCC Desk before the operation, and knew that operation from a scaffold in the water would not be allowed. However, with a typhoon heading their way and knowing that the island might never count for DXCC, but would count for IOTA, a scaffold was placed in the water for 13 hours of operation. In April 1995, the group went back at the time when the likelihood of a typhoon was much less. This time, all operation took place from the surface of the rocks. Three separate positions were used, with a transmitter and antenna located on each. Four days of operation netted over 12.000 QSOs. Scarborough Shoal (Wikipedia) Scarborough Shoal,are two rocks in a shoal located between the Macclesfield Bank and Luzon within the Philippine EEZ in the South China Sea. It is 220 kilometres (119 nmi) away from the nearest landmass of Luzon, the largest island of the Philippines. It is a disputed territory claimed by the Republic of the Philippines through the 1734 Velarde map, while the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China (Taiwan) claim it through the disputed nine- dash line (originally an eleven-dash line which included waters in the Gulf of Tonkin. The shoal's status is often discussed in conjunction with other territorial disputes in the South China Sea such as those involving the Spratly Islands, and the 2012 Scarborough Shoal standoff. It was administered by the Philippines as part of its Zambales province, until 2012, when a standoff was initiated by China through the use of warships against fishing boats. Scarborough Reef (BS7H) added to the DXCC (Crazy !) Scarborough Reef ( Huangyan Dao) is now claimed by China, Taiwan and the Philippines. To be QRV from Scarborough Reef, you have to build a pipe construction to keep your feet dry during high tide. The reef was added to the DXCC list because of (Point 2a) of the rules. Scarborough Reef (a.k.a. Huang Yan Dao) is located at 15.1 North 117.5 East in the South China Sea and is more than 500 miles from mainland China. There have been four BS7H operations from Huang Yan Dao, which literally means Yellow Rock Islands. The first operation, which made about 2,000 QSOs, was in late June 1994 and did not count for DXCC. The second operation started on April 12, 1995 and ran for just under 4 days managing some 11,835 QSOs. This operation did count for DXCC. The third operation took place in late April and early May 1997 but came to a halt after just over 70 hours and 13,154 QSOs. This was when the Philippine Navy showed up and the Chinese ops agreed to leave. The fourth operation took place in May 2007 with 45,830 QSO's made. QSOs with Scarborough Reef (BS7H) count from January 1, 1995. Entities January 1997: Active 329, Deleted: 57, Withdrawn 9 1997 was again a quiet year. No change on the the lists. DXCC changes 1992-1997 Entities December 1997: Active 329, Deleted: 58, Withdrawn 9