Sin Cowe Island 9°53′7″N 114°19′47″E, also known as Sinh Ton Island (Vietnamese: Đảo Sinh Tồn); Rurok Island (Filipino: Pulo ng Rurok, lit. 'Island of Peak'); (Mandarin Chinese: 景宏島; pinyin: Jǐnghóng Dǎo; Wade–Giles: Ching-hung Tao), is an island in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. With an natural 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 (the Republic of China). In December 1960, the United States Military Assistance Advisory Group requested permission from Taiwan's Republic of China Ministry of National Defense to carry out surveys at this island, which was approved. It is part of the Union Banks.