Sabina Shoal, known to the Philippines as Escoda and by China as Xianbin Jiao, is the latest flashpoint in the South China Sea between Manila and Beijing. Located 75 nautical miles from the Philippine province of Palawan, the standoff at the maritime feature started in April following claims by the Philippines that China began an island reclamation project.
Beijing claims the shoal and other features within the Philippine exclusive economic zone as its own under the Ten-Dash Line, which encompasses most of the South China Sea. Chinese state media repeatedly denied Manila’s assertions of artificial island building, refuting the Philippine presence with allegations of environmental damage to Sabina’s corals and claiming that the deployment of Philippine Coast Guard vessels was to occupy the shoal similarly to the outpost at Second Thomas Shoal.
The following is a timeline of major events and maritime incidents of the 2024 Chinese-Philippine Standoff at Sabina Shoal since the arrival of Philippine Coast Guard vessels at the South China Sea maritime feature in April to the present.
April 16:
Philippine Coast Guard flagship BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701), a Japanese-built 97-meter-long patrol ship, deploys to Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea to counter what Manila claims is an island reclamation project by China. Chinese vessels continue to deploy to the disputed shoal following its arrival.
May 11:
Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard commodore and spokesperson for the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea, says that the deployment of Teresa Magbanua stopped China’s alleged attempt to reclaim Sabina. He further says that the deployment, supported by the smaller patrol vessels BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409) and BRP Malabrigo (MRRV-4402), looked to stop or intercept Chinese vessels looking to operate near the maritime feature.
June 4:
An unidentified People’s Liberation Army Navy 071-class landing platform dock arrives at Sabina to deploy hovercraft and helicopters for a drill in what Tarriela described as “amphibious operations.” The Armed Forces of the Philippines lists the deployment as a part of the first-ever Chinese military exercise in the country’s exclusive economic zone. Philippine coast guardsmen escort and prevent their Chinese counterparts from blocking a study by marine researchers from the University of the Philippines Institute of Biology examining the health of coral at Sabina. One of the largest vessels in the China Coast Guard fleet looms in the background of a change of command ceremony aboard Teresa Magbanua.
June 8:
Civilian researchers from the University of the Philippines Institute of Biology reveal their findings at Sabina. While there appears to be artificially created depressions of dead coral on the seabed at Sabina, the research team declares that there is not enough evidence to conclude that reclamation activity occurred at the maritime feature, noting that the depressions could have been caused by natural means.
June 12:
A 075-class landing helicopter dock is spotted via satellite imagery near Sabina for military exercises. Chinese state media states that the presence of People’s Liberation Army Navy warships was to “ensure any potential emergency will not lead to worse scenarios.”
June 31:
It was truly an exceptional occurrence in the West Philippine Sea yesterday, as four PCG vessels were nestled together, creating a remarkable sight. The three 44-meter MRRVs joined BRP Teresa Magbanua at Escoda Shoal after successfully completing their resupply missions at… pic.twitter.com/3m2HbNakA5
— Jay Tarriela (@jaytaryela) July 2, 2024
After completing resupply missions to outposts across the South China Sea, three Philippine Coast Guard patrol vessels stopped at Sabina alongside Teresa Magbanua. Despite the proximity of Chinese cutters to the formation, there is no incident. Chinese state media claims that the Philippine vessels brought supplies and construction materials to Teresa Magbanua. This would be the largest Philippine presence at Sabina this year.
July 3:
Chinese cutter 5901, a 12,000-ton vessel known popularly as the “monster ship,” arrives at Sabina to shadow Teresa Magbanua. The China Coast Guard’s largest ship stays at the maritime feature for roughly half of July. It appears again in August.
Aug. 19:
Two Philippine Coast Guard patrol boats, BRP Bagacay (MRRV-4410) and BRP Cape Engaño (MRRV-4411), are rammed by China Coast Guard vessels CCGV-3104 and CCGV-21551 around 20 nautical miles southeast of Sabina. The collision results in numerous punctures to their hulls. Manila claims that the patrol boats did not intend to stop at Teresa Magbanua and were on their way to resupply other Philippine outposts in the area. Beijing denies these claims and says that the vessels also violated the agreement reached over the resupply of BRP Sierra Madre (LT-57) at Second Thomas Shoal.
Aug. 25:
At least eight ships belonging to the Chinese Coast Guard and People’s Liberation Army Navy surround BRP Datu Sanday (MMOV-3002), an offshore vessel operated by the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, during its mission in the area to resupply Philippine fishermen around Sabina and Half Moon Shoal. China Coast Guard cutters blast water cannons, which includes targeting embarked journalists, and ram Datu Sanday.
Aug. 26:
Forty Chinese ships block Cabra and Cape Engaño from Sabina during their attempt to resupply Teresa Magbanua with provisions, including food, supplies and a “special ice cream treat” from Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan for the flagship’s crew to celebrate National Heroes’ Day. Numerous Chinese vessels from the People’s Liberation Army Navy, China Coast Guard and Maritime Militia, including a Type 055-class destroyer, make up the blockade force. This is the first publicly reported blocking of a resupply mission to Sabina since Teresa Magbanua arrived at the maritime feature in April.
Aug. 27:
The Philippine Coast Guard says that supplies for Teresa Magbanua’s crew are at critical levels following the blockade by Chinese forces.
Aug. 28:
A Philippine Coast Guard H145 helicopter resupplies Teresa Magbanua following the failed blockade run. Beijing cautions against future aerial resupply missions, citing potential incidents in the skies above Sabina.
Aug. 31:
Chinese forces surround and ram Teresa Magbanua, causing damage to its hull. China claims that their cutter is the victim of the incident, despite releasing a video of the collision occurring at the stern of the Philippine vessel. Notably, two People’s Liberation Army Navy tugboats were at Sabina during the incident, which Chinese state media notes as one of Beijing’s options to deal with the flagship. “Possible actions include cutting off Manila’s supplies to PCG ship 9701, preventing Philippine ships from entering the lagoon, and having high-powered tugboats ready to tow away the ship at any time,” a Global Times editorial declared. China also claims that a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon was present overheard during the encounter.
