Sabina Shoal, also known as Escoda Shoal (Filipino: Buhanginan ng Escoda); Mandarin Chinese: 仙賓礁/仙宾礁; pinyin: Xiānbīn Jiāo; Vietnamese: Bãi Sa Bin, is a disputed atoll in the NE of Dangerous Ground in the Spratly Islands. The Philippines puts it under the jurisdiction of Brgy. Pag-asa, Kalayaan, Palawan.[1] It is also claimed by the People's Republic of China, and the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Vietnam, all of whom claim the Spratly Islands in their entirety.[2]
| Disputed atoll | |
|---|---|
 Sabina Shoal | |
  Sabina Shoal | |
| Other names | Escoda Shoal (Philippine English) Buhanginan ng Escoda (Filipino) 仙賓礁 / 仙宾礁 Xiānbīn Jiāo (Chinese) Bãi Sa Bin (Vietnamese) |
| Geography | |
| Location | South China Sea |
| Coordinates | 9°45′N 116°28′E / 9.750°N 116.467°E |
| Archipelago | Spratly Islands |
| Administration | |
| Region | Southwestern Tagalog Region |
| Province | Palawan |
| Municipality | Kalayaan |
| Claimed by | |
Geography
editSabina Shoal is part of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. It lies in position 09° 45' N 116° 28' E,[3] 123.6 nautical miles from Palawan Island.[4] 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.[5] The features are well within the Philippines' EEZ closest to Palawan island.
Disputes and controversies
editThe reefs are a disputed low-tide elevation in the Spratly Islands, that are currently claimed by China, Taiwan, the Philippines and Vietnam. Because determining sovereignty of disputed features is beyond UNCLOS's jurisdiction and all claimants have not reached an agreement, the legal question of its ownership remains unresolved today in the South China Sea disputes.[6][2]
In 1995, soon after occupying Mischief Reef, China (PRC) installed 3 buoys near Sabina Shoal. They were confiscated by the Philippines.[7]
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 PCG, the militia vessels left the area.[8][9]
On Independence Day 2024, Rear Admiral Armando Balilo of the Philippine Coast Guard aboard the BRP Teresa Magbanua under PCG Lt. Efren Duran held the first-ever flag-raising ceremony in the Shoal amid presence of 12 Chinese vessels.[10]
References
edit- ^ Zambrano, Chiara (27 March 2014). "Mission to Ayungin shoal". ABS CBN News. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
- ^ 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.