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South China Sea: Chinese coastguard ‘monitoring’ Philippine vessels near Sabina Shoal
- Atoll in the disputed Spratlys has increasingly taken centre stage in recent China-Philippines stand-offs in the South China Sea
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![Philippine coastguard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessels on a fuel assistance mission to the Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/1020x680/public/d8/images/canvas/2024/08/05/17e66894-aa97-4d53-872f-ecb28175e515_e6e42351.jpg?itok=8wZm1RDM&v=1722839309)
Orange Wangin Beijing
China says it is “monitoring” and “effectively controlling” Philippine ships gathering around the disputed Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea, while vowing to “resolutely defend” its territorial sovereignty.
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Patrol boats from the Philippines’ Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and a number of fishing vessels from the country have gathered in the waters near the Philippine coastguard ship BRP Teresa Magbanua since Saturday, according to a statement from the China Coast Guard.
The Chinese statement said the ship had been “illegally stranded” at the shoal.
“The Chinese coastguard has been monitoring in accordance with the law and effectively controlling the situation throughout the whole process,” spokesman Gan Yu said.
Sabina Shoal, known as Xianbin Jiao in China and Escoda Shoal in the Philippines, has increasingly taken centre stage in the string of recent stand-offs in contested areas of the South China Sea.
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