The Philippines on Sept 15 was forced to withdraw its coast guard ship BRP Teresa Magbanua from its waters after a five-month standoff. - PHOTO: AFP
MANILA (The Straits Times/ANN): The pressure is on for the Philippines to replace a vessel it pulled out from a hotly contested shoal in the South China Sea – or risk losing a strategic area in its maritime dispute with Beijing.
Geopolitical analysts warned that China could take control of Sabina Shoal, after the Philippines on Sept 15 was forced to withdraw its 97m-long coast guard ship BRP Teresa Magbanua from its waters after a five-month stand-off.
