The Philippines has announced that its vessel, the BRP Teresa Magbanua, has left the disputed Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea after spending months there to assert Philippine claims in the area. The vessel is said to be returning for crew medical needs and repairs, with a new vessel set to replace it immediately to maintain a presence in the region. This move is likely to anger China, which claims sovereignty over the area.
The Chinese Coast Guard has reiterated its claim over the Sabina Shoal, despite the international tribunal ruling in 2016 that Beijing’s assertion has no legal basis. Recent collisions between Philippine and Chinese vessels near the shoal have exacerbated tensions, with the Teresa Magbanua sustaining damage in one such incident in August. Chinese vessels blocking a resupply mission for the Philippine sailors on board also exacerbated the situation.
Philippine officials have held high-level talks with Chinese counterparts on maritime issues, with Beijing demanding the withdrawal of the Philippine vessel from the area. This echoes a similar situation in 2012 when China took control of Scarborough Shoal after a standoff with the Philippines. The Philippines has accused China of repeated harassment of Philippine vessels in the South China Sea in recent years.
Overall, the situation in the South China Sea remains tense, with both the Philippines and China asserting their claims over disputed areas. The deployment of a new vessel by the Philippines to replace the Teresa Magbanua signals the country’s determination to maintain a presence in the region despite China’s claims.
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