 The part of the atoll above sea level is a reef on the south-east rim which had an original land area of approximately , but with reclaimed land now covers , measuring over long and wide.The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) has maintained a presence on the reef since 1983, but as with all of the Spratly Islands, the ownership is disputed, and it is also claimed by the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Vietnam.The Philippines does not lay claim to Swallow Reef.