Sabina Shoal
Atoll of Spratly Islands in South China Sea
9°45′N 116°28′E / 9.750°N 116.467°E / 9.750; 116.467 (Sabina Shoal)
China
Philippines
Taiwan
VietnamSabina Shoal, also known as Escoda Shoal (Filipino: Buhanginan ng Escoda); Bãi Sa Bin (Vietnamese: Bãi Sa Bin); Xianbin Jiao (Chinese: 仙賓礁/仙宾礁; pinyin: Xiānbīn Jiāo), is a disputed atoll in the northeast of Dangerous Ground in the Spratly Islands. It is claimed by China, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. All of whom claim the Spratly Islands in their entirety.[1]
Geography
Sabina Shoal is part of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. It lies in position 09° 45' N 116° 28' E,[2] 123.6 nautical miles from Palawan Island.[3] It is situated 56 nautical miles southwest of Carnatic Shoal, with two main parts and an area of 115 square kilometres (44 sq mi).
The eastern half of Sabina Shoal consists of reefs awash, while the western half consists of banks 3.7 to 8.3 metres (12 to 27 feet) deep, and reefs enclosing a lagoon.[4]
Disputes and controversies
The reefs are a disputed low-tide elevation in the Spratly Islands, that are claimed by China, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. Because determining sovereignty of disputed features is beyond UNCLOS' jurisdiction and all claimants have not reached an agreement, the legal question of its ownership remains unresolved today in the South China Sea disputes.[5][1]
In 1995, soon after occupying Mischief Reef, China (PRC) installed three buoys near Sabina Shoal. They were confiscated by the Philippines.[6]
On April 27, 2021, during a joint maritime patrol operations of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in the area, seven Chinese maritime militia vessels were spotted anchored at the atoll. After several challenges from BRP Cabra of the PCG, the militia vessels left the area.[7][8]
On the Independence Day of the Philippines in 2024, Rear Admiral Armando Balilo of the PCG, aboard BRP Teresa Magbanua in that part of the South China Sea called by the Philippines the West Philippine Sea, held a flag-raising ceremony claiming Sabina Shoal for the Philippines.[9] China responded with a vow to take "strong measures" against the Philippines.[10]
The day after a clash between the two coast guards near the shoal on August 19, the Philippine government stated it was examining expanding the provisional agreement that had been established to de-escalate tensions near the Second Thomas Shoal to other areas.[11]
On August 31, 2024, China Coast Guard vessel 5205 struck the port bow of the Philippines Coast Guard patrol ship BRP Teresa Magbanua, then turned around and struck its starboard quarter, turned around once more and struck its port bow. Parts of the Philippine Coast Guard ship were left with holes after the Chinese Coast Guard vessel's aggressive actions.[12]
References
- ^ a b "Manila accuses Beijing of island building in South China Sea". RFA.
- ^ D.J Hancox; John Prescott. A Geographical Description of the Spratly Islands. UK: International Boundaries Research Unit. p. 28.
- ^ "PHL insists Escoda Shoal is within its sovereignty and maritime jurisdiction". balita.ph. 2012-01-11. Retrieved 2014-07-15.
- ^ Admiralty Sailing Directions - South China Sea. Taunton: UKHO - United Kingdom Hydrographic Office. 2004. p. 64.
- ^ Ho, Andrea (2021-05-06). "Professor Robert Beckman on the Role of UNCLOS in Maritime Disputes". Georgetown Journal of International Affairs. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
- ^ Bondoc, Jarius (16 April 2012). "China out to grab Zambales shoal". Philippine Star. Retrieved 23 May 2014. (Zambales Shoal is also known as Scarborough Shoal.)
- ^ Bagaoisan, Anjo (May 5, 2021). "7 barko ng China, pinaalis ng PCG sa Sabina Shoal". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
- ^ Viray, Patricia Lourdes (May 5, 2021). "Chinese militia vessels at Sabina Shoal disperse after challenge by coast guard — Esperon". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
- ^ Dela Cruz, Raymond Carl (June 12, 2024). "PH flag raised for 1st time at Sabina Shoal on Independence Day". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
- ^ "China vows 'strong measures' against Philippines over encroaching ships in South China Sea". South China Morning Post. n.d. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
- ^ Darryl John Esguerra (August 20, 2024). "PH mulls expanding Ayungin Shoal 'provisional arrangement' with China". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
- ^ Ong, Ghio (September 1, 2024). "Chinese Vessel Rams PCG Patrol Ship 3 times". One News.
- v
- t
- e
- Dangerous Ground
- Loaita Bank
- London Reefs
- North Danger Reef
- Reed Tablemount
- Tizard Bank
- Union Banks
| |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pratas Island |
| ||||||||||||||||
| Paracel Islands |
| ||||||||||||||||
| Northeastern SCS | |||||||||||||||||
| Spratly Islands |
| ||||||||||||||||
| Southeastern SCS | |||||||||||||||||
| Southern SCS | |||||||||||||||||
| Tudjuh Archipelago | |||||||||||||||||
| History |
| ||||||||||||||||
| Transport |
| ||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
