Philippines considers new case against China over Sabina Shoal incident

The Philippine government is considering whether to file another arbitral case against China following a recent incident at Sabina Shoal where a Chinese Coast Guard vessel reportedly rammed the BRP Teresa Magbanua.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo stated that the DFA had filed 173 diplomatic protests against China from July 1, 2022 to Aug. 12, 2024, with 40 of them lodged this year.

Sabina Shoal lies 140 kilometers off Palawan and is part of the Spratly Islands, where Manila grounded a Navy vessel in 1999 as an outpost for Filipino troops.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs urged the Senate to ratify a United Nations agreement on marine life conservation beyond national jurisdiction amid recent sea scuffles with China.