Sabina Shoal, also known as Bãi Sa Bin (Vietnamese: Bãi Sa Bin); Escoda Shoal (Filipino: Buhanginan ng Escoda); Xianbin Jiao (Chinese: 仙賓礁/仙宾礁; pinyin: Xiānbīn Jiāo), is a disputed low-tide elevation[1][2] atoll[3] located in the northeast of Dangerous Ground in the Spratly Islands, South China Sea.
[8][9] It is situated 56 nautical miles southwest of Carnatic Shoal, with two main parts and an area of 115 square kilometres (44 sq mi).
[10] Sabina Shoal is a disputed low-tide elevation[1][2] in the Spratly Islands which is claimed by multiple states: China, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.
[17][18][better source needed] The Philippines as the coastal state has the sovereign rights to explore, manage, and conserve the natural resources of the sea within its EEZ according to UNCLOS.
[33] A 60 Minutes crew with journalist Cecilia Vega were on board the Cape Engaño when it was surrounded by 14 Chinese Coast Guard and Maritime Militia ships and rammed at 4am by a CCG vessel.
[40][18] Tarriela released video footage of the incident showing the damage to the Philippine ship, including a man-sized hole on the freeboard, as well as dents, deformed railings, and waterlogged equipment.
[45] China said it may tow the Philippine vessel away if it is anchored at the Sabina Shoal again, although such an attempt can be challenging due to Teresa Magbanua's size and the risk of drawing the United States into the conflict.
[36] In September 2023, the Philippine Coast Guard reported "massive damage" to the marine environment and coral reef in Sabina Shoal.
[46] It suggested that the destruction may have been the result of dumping, illegal fishing, and land reclamation efforts (also known as China's Great Wall of Sand) by the Chinese maritime militia.
It claimed that the PCG ship (BRP Teresa Magbanua) which had been anchored at the shoal in April 2024[29] had caused continuous damage to the surrounding natural environment.