A Philippine Coast Guard vessel, BRP Teresa Magbanua, has left the disputed Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea after months of maintaining its position amidst heightened tensions with Beijing. The ship had been anchored at the shoal since April to assert Manila’s territorial claims and deter China from taking control of the area.
Despite an international tribunal ruling against Beijing’s claims to almost the entire South China Sea, China continues to press its dominance in the region. The situation has been particularly tense, with multiple collisions between Chinese and Philippine vessels near the Sabina Shoal, located 140 kilometers from the Philippines’ Palawan Island and 1,200 kilometers from China’s Hainan Island.
During its deployment, the BRP Teresa Magbanua faced several challenges, including an encirclement by a larger Chinese flotilla and harsh weather conditions. Its bridge wing and freeboard were damaged in one of the recent collisions. The ship’s crew endured limited provisions as Chinese vessels blocked a resupply mission to the Filipino sailors aboard, leaving them critically low on food and other essentials.
“During her deployment… she challenged an encirclement by a larger flotilla of intruders, battled inclement weather, with her crew surviving on diminished daily provisions,” said Lucas Bersamin, Chairperson of the National Maritime Council, in a statement on Sunday.
The standoff highlights the ongoing tensions in the South China Sea, where territorial disputes continue to escalate between China and other nations, including the Philippines.
