The Philippines affirmed its claim over Sabina Shoal after withdrawing a coast guard vessel due to harsh conditions and confrontations with China. Manila stressed that the pullout does not signify giving up the reef, despite China’s assertions of sovereignty
The Philippines insisted on Monday that it had not given up a South China Sea reef, two days after it pulled out a ship stationed there following a months-long standoff with rival claimant China.
BRP Teresa Magbanua
Manila had deployed the Coast Guard flagship BRP Teresa Magbanua to Sabina Shoal in April to stop Beijing from building an artificial island there, as it has atop several other disputed features in the strategic waterway.
But the ship was abruptly called back to the western Philippine island of Palawan, with Manila citing damage from an earlier clash with Chinese ships, ailing crew members, dwindling food and bad weather.
Subsequent reports
Philippine authorities offered l explanations for the withdrawal of the Teresa Magbanua, including bad weather, low supplies, and damage sustained during a collision with a Chinese vessel. The PCG also announced that four crew members were sick and needed medical treatment.
According to subsequent reports, the crew members had become severely dehydrated due to a Chinese blockade of the Teresa Magbanua while it was stationed at Sabina Shoal.
Chinese and Philippine ships collide in South China Sea
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Diplomatic incident
On the other hand on March 22, 2021, a diplomatic incident started after the Philippines filed a diplomatic protest against China due to the presence of more than 200 Chinese fishing vessels at Whitsun Reef as early as March 7, 2021. The reef is part of the contested Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.
Whitsun Reef
The Chinese presence at Whitsun Reef caused tensions, with the Philippines alleging that the ships were part of a militia and that the mooring of the ships at the reef was a prelude to a Chinese takeover of the maritime feature.
China denied such allegations, claiming that the ships were seeking shelter at the reef due to rough weather conditions. Both countries claim sovereignty over Whitsun Reef, as does Vietnam which has filed its protest against Chinese presence in the reef.
