Sabina Shoal

Sabina Shoal, also known as Escoda Shoal (Buhanginan ng Escoda); Mandarin ; Bãi Sa Bin, is a disputed atoll in the NE of Dangerous Ground in the Spratly Islands. The Philippines puts it under the jurisdiction of Brgy. Pag-asa, Kalayaan, Palawan. It is also claimed by the People's Republic of China, and the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Vietnam, all of whom claim the Spratly Islands in their entirety.

Geography
Sabina Shoal is part of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea (in the area known as West Philippine Sea in the Philippines). It lies in position 09° 45' N 116° 28' E, 123.6 nautical miles from Palawan Island. It is situated 56 nautical miles southwest of Carnatic Shoal, with two main parts and an area of 115 km2.

The eastern half of Sabina Shoal consists of reefs awash, while the western half consists of banks 3.7 to 8.3 m deep, and reefs enclosing a lagoon. The features are well within the Philippines' EEZ closest to Palawan island.

Disputes and controversies
The reefs are a disputed low-tide elevation in the Spratly Islands, that are currently claimed by China, Taiwan, the Philippines and Vietnam. Because determining sovereignty of disputed features is beyond UNCLOS's jurisdiction and all claimants have not reached an agreement, the legal question of its ownership remains unresolved today in the South China Sea disputes.

In 1995, soon after occupying Mischief Reef, China (PRC) installed 3 buoys near Sabina Shoal. They were confiscated by the Philippines.

On April 27, 2021, during a joint maritime patrol operations of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in the area, seven Chinese maritime militia vessels were spotted anchored at the atoll. After several challenges from BRP Cabra of PCG, the militia vessels left the area.

On Independence Day 2024, Rear Admiral Armando Balilo of the Philippine Coast Guard aboard the BRP Teresa Magbanua under PCG Lt. Efren Duran held the first-ever flag-raising ceremony in the Shoal amid presence of 12 Chinese vessels.