CHINA PHILIPPINES DISPUTE OVER SABINA SHOAL
On Friday, China released its first survey report on Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea.
- It rejected the Philippines’ claims of damage to the reef.
- The report, conducted by China’s Ministry of Natural Resources from May to July.
- It states that there is no scientific evidence to support the Philippines’ accusations.
KEY FINDINGS
- Survey Results:
- The survey showed that the coral reef at Sabina Shoal is in good condition for growth.
- China denied the Philippines’ claims that Chinese activities at Xianbin Reef (Sabina Shoal) caused significant coral damage.
- The report said, “There is no scientific or factual basis for the Philippines’ claims that China’s activities have caused coral bleaching and death in the region.”
- Accusations and Counterclaims:
- The Philippine Coast Guard has accused China of building an artificial island at Sabina Shoal.
- In response, China claimed that the presence of Philippine warships has harmed the coral reef.
- The report also mentioned that the damage was caused by a Philippine coast guard ship’s “illegal” stay at the shoal. China said this led to damage from anchors and small boats operating in the area.
ABOUT SABINA SHOAL
- Geographical Details:
- Sabina Shoal is an oceanic coral atoll developed on a seamount. It extends about 23 km along its northwest-southeast axis and comprises two main parts connected by a narrow section.
- The western part is larger, measuring 13 km by 6 km, while the eastern part measures 10 km by 3 km. Both parts feature a central lagoon surrounded by a coral ring made of discontinuous shallow sections.
WHAT IS A SEAMOUNT?
- Definition and Formation:
- A seamount is an underwater mountain formed through volcanic activity.
- Seamounts are hotspots for marine life and can be active, extinct, or dormant volcanoes.
- They form near mid-ocean ridges, where tectonic plates move apart, allowing molten rock to rise to the seafloor.
- Some seamounts are found near intraplate hotspots or oceanic island chains with volcanic and seismic activity.
RECENT INCIDENTS
- Incident Near Sabina Shoal:
- On Sunday, tensions escalated when the Philippine South China Sea task force reported that Chinese vessels had rammed and used water cannons against a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries ship. The ship was reportedly transporting food, fuel, and medical supplies for Filipino fishermen.
- Geopolitical Background:
- Sabina Shoal, also known as Xianbin Reef, is situated in the eastern part of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.
- It lies approximately 75 nautical miles from the Philippine province of Palawan and is considered part of the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
- China, however, claims sovereignty over the shoal and much of the South China Sea, maintaining a continuous presence there. The shoal is located about 630 nautical miles from China.
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