MANILA – The Philippines and China have successfully resurrected a simmer over the Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea, evoking at least a momentary de-escalation in maritime conflicts that some fear could lead to an armed conflict.
The National Maritime Council, the newly established joint work pressure overseeing the Philippines ‘ South China Sea plan,  , announced , on September 15 that the Philippine Coast Guard premier BRP Teresa Magbanua was leaving the bay area after a tough five-month-long mission.
China reportedly withdrew its coast guard and military forces from the area of the disputed property feature in the Spratly group of islands soon after.
According to Philippine officials, China had parked more than 200 vessels – a combined force composed of Chinese Coast Guard (CCC ) and Chinese maritime militia ( CMM) – in the Spratlys, with as many as 71 deployed close to the Sabina Shoal.
The Philippine government’s swift response to criticism of the vessel’s withdrawal was seen as a de facto” surrender” and echoed China’s claim that its pressure tactics had “outsmarted” the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administration.
Even though the shift occurred shortly after the most recent Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) conference between major Philippine and Taiwanese diplomats in Beijing, the Spanish state has insisted that it was not a part of any agreement with China.
Major Spanish officials have emphasized their devotion to a continued and expanded existence in the Sabina Shoal region, including through regular deployments of naval assets and police warships.
The BRP Teresa Magbanua, according to NMC chairman Lucas Bersamin, “against enormous odds” when confronted with” an invasion of China’s larger fleet of intruders.” He said the ship would continue its goal as “defenders of our independence” in the area after being resupplied, repaired and its staff recharged.
The Sabina Shoal ( “Escoda” to Filipinos and” Xianbin Jiao” to Chinese ) is situated just 75 nautical miles ( 140 kilometers ) from Philippine shores, well its Exclusive Economic Zone ( EEZ ) extending from the island of Palawan.
China views the disputed function as part of its extensive exploration of nearly the entire South China Sea and its functions as defined in its nine-dash range map, while the Philippines claims that the low-tide ascent is a part of its western table.
China’s expansive claims were dismissed as incompatible with international law in an arbitration case brought by Manila in 2016 that was heard at The Hague under the auspices of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea ( UNCLOS). Beijing disregarded the ultimate decision, which lacked an enforcement mechanism, and boycotted the arbitration proceedings.
Both sides were worried about one another’s motives, which contributed to the most recent upheaval. In light of concerns that China may have been secretly engaging in island-building actions in the disputed place, Manila immediately deployed its most valuable coast guard warship to Sabina Shoal.
The Philippines was earlier up in arms when reports emerged of China’s possible restoration of another low-tide altitude, known as Sandy Cay, situated in the vicinity of the Philippine-occupied Thitu Island in the Spratlys. The Philippine Navy , deployed a warship , to the place to inform China against any major movements.
For its part, China’s People’s Liberation Army ( PLA ) recently conducted exercises near the Sabina Shoal. Beijing was reportedly alarmed by the PCG’s rollout of its flagship ship, which was believed to be worried that the Philippines was about to try to fortify the disputed Second Thomas Shoal.
By grounding the BRP Sierra Madre ship there since the late 1990s, the Philippines has maintained a de facto military presence over the strategically located have ( also claimed by China ).
The Southeast Asian nation properly fortified the deteriorating base through subsequent transfers of building materials despite ongoing harassment from Chinese forces, including numerous collisions and even injuries sustained by Asian troops.
China increased its reputation and harassment strategies in the Sabina Shoal to stop a situation like this, despite the Philippines ‘ repeated denials of plans to establish a “forward base” there.
Beijing remains unconvinced and quickly reminded its Southeast Asian rival of its preponderance of force after deploying CCG 5901, the world’s largest coast guard ship known as” The Monster” , , to shadow , and intimidate the BRP Teresa Magbanua.
Last month, Chinese vessels blocked Spanish supplies operations, thus forcing the latter to update basic requirements for its forces in the area , via plane.
During a routine resupply mission to nearby islands in the Spratlys, Chinese vessels engaged in dangerous maneuvers against two PCG Multi-Role Response Vessels ( BRP Cape Engao and BRP Bagacay ) during a dangerous maneuver.
The PCG boats were also damaged by the collisions, but the CCG maintained that it was legitimately responding to the protests by Filipino rivals who “illegally entered” the region without consent and “deliberately” collided with its boats.
Shortly after, Chinese troops went so far as apparently ramming into the BRPTeresa Magbanua, raising worries of a strong military fight.
The US immediately offered its Filipino mutual defense treaty allies, including possible joint inspections and supplies missions in the contested areas, for the weight of the condition.
Major Filipino leaders have however indicated that they would prefer to rely on their own resources, despite some who have boldly called for a international anti-China empire as well as a revision of the Philippine-US Mutual Defense Treaty to lower the bar for British military action.
” We did not withdraw, and this did not happen during the most recent BCM. People might think we gave in, but in reality, we did n’t”, Admiral Alexander Lopez, the chief official of the Marcos supervision on the South China Sea, said during a recent press conference.
He continued,” We stood our ground at the conference in Beijing, and our department of foreign affairs assured us that our existence would continue at the reef, so it’s not a withdrawal.”
” The mayor’s mandate is to maintain our reputation in Escoda Shoal”, he added during the current press conference at the Malacañang Palace. ” When we say presence, strategic presence, not just physical appearance … I just want to make clear that our existence is not limited to sending a single ship”, the commander added.
” Even if , Teresa Magbanua , left, it did not diminish our presence in the area because we have other methods to track”, the Spanish captain insisted, citing the Philippines ‘ implementation of patrol aircraft and security features to monitor developments in the contested place.
He also made it clear that the PCG has already set up a new vessel to take the place of the departing flagship in order to establish a Spanish proper presence in the area. We have not lost anything, according to ford Jay Tarriela of the PCG in his own press conference this year.
” ]Sabina ] Shoal, no matter how many instances we intend to go there, we will be able to patrol and deploy our vessel”, he added.
Top Philippine officials ‘ vehement protestations came in response to charges made by local opponents and islamists who have taken issue with the Marcos Jr. management of stumbling against China.
However, the Philippines has yet to fully utilize its full range of capabilities, according to prominent Filipino managers like original Vice Admiral Rommel June Ong.
We communicate as though we have used up all of our toolkits, he once said to the publisher. He added that the Philippines has the opportunity to conduct joint patrols with allies and, if necessary, to ask for immediate American help if the situation escalates to a dangerous level.
” The Sabina Shoal standoff is not an isolated challenge. We are confronting]a more comprehensive ] direct challenge across the whole South China Sea…]but ] we]also] have a full range of options to respond”, he added, likening the sea showdown with China as more marathon than sprint.
Follow Richard Javad Heydarian on X at @Richeydarian