PH's BRP Teresa Magbanua leaves Sabina Shoal

The Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua has left Sabina Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, the National Maritime Council said Sunday.

The BRP Teresa Magbanua was tracked by AIS data posted on social media leaving Sabina Shoal on Friday then sailing in the Sulu Sea, according to a report on Friday by USNI News.

The ship has been in Sabina Shoal, also known as Escoda Shoal, since April 15.

READ: TIMELINE: BRP Teresa Magbanua at Sabina Shoal

The PCG said in May that crushed corals were dumped near Sabina Shoal similar to those observed in Sandy Cay, which Filipino marine biologists had said may be due to island-building activities in the West Philippine Sea.

According to the PCG, the dumping of crushed corals near Sabina Shoal may be in preparation for China's reclamation activities to build structures on top of the maritime feature, which is much closer to Palawan than the contested Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

The PCG also said last May it is committed to sustaining a presence in the West Philippine Sea to ensure China does not carry out reclamation activities at Sabina Shoal.

The Philippine Navy then deployed a warship to Sabina Shoal amid the reported attempt of China to conduct reclamation activities in the area.

It also slammed China’s People's Liberation Army (PLA) for conducting exercises in Sabina Shoal last June. The Chinese military reportedly launched a hovercraft and aircraft and performed maneuvers at sea.

Last June, a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel and two Chinese maritime militia vessels reportedly shadowed and sailed around the BRP Teresa Magbanua at the Sabina Shoal, according to the monitoring of the SeaLight security think tank.

China also deployed to Sabina Shoal its CCG 5901, the world's largest coast guard ship known as "The Monster," to intimidate the BRP Teresa Magbanua, the PCG said.

In August, two Multi-Role Response Vessels (MRRVs) of the PCG, the BRP Cape Engaño and BRP Bagacay, were en route to deliver essential supplies to personnel stationed in Patag and Lawak Islands when CCG vessels performed dangerous maneuvers near Sabina Shoal. This resulted in damage to the PCG vessels. CCG however claimed that PCG vessels "illegally entered" the area without permission and “deliberately” collided with its ship.

China also claimed that PCG plans to turn Sabina Shoal into a “forward base”, which was denied by PCG.

In August, the PCG said essential supplies on BRP Teresa Magbanua reached a critical level after Chinese vessels blocked the resupply missions. Supplies were air dropped via helicopter.

On August 31, a CCG vessel "intentionally" and repeatedly rammed the BRP Teresa Magbanua, punching a hole on the ship's hull that was large enough for a person to go through.

Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Theresa Lazaro had a "frank and candid exchange of views" with counterpart Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong in a meeting in Beijing on Sept. 11, but did not reach a breakthrough on how to resolve an ongoing conflict in Sabina Shoal, called Xianbin Reef by China.

The Philippines and China maintained their respective positions on Sabina Shoal, but vowed to explore ways to prevent confrontations, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Thursday.

Located 75 nautical miles or about 140 kilometers off Palawan, Sabina Shoal is a coral reef formation with a central lagoon surrounded by discontinuous shallow sections.

It is considered to be within the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. —KG, GMA Integrated News