Philippines Fires Back at China's Accusation Over Damaged Coral Reefs in South China Sea

Photo : Reuters

The Philippines rejected China's accusation on Tuesday that its grounded warship on the contested Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea had damaged the coral reef ecosystem in the area. Instead, the Philippines blamed Beijing for the environmental damage.

In a statement, the Philippine task force on the South China Sea called for an independent, third-party marine scientific assessment to determine the true causes of coral reef damage in the region. The task force asserted, "It is China who has been found to have caused irreparable damage to corals. It is China that has caused untold damage to the maritime environment and jeopardized the natural habitat and livelihood of thousands of Filipino fisherfolk."

China's Ministry of Natural Resources claimed on Monday that Philippine warships have been "illegally beached" around Second Thomas Shoal, known in China as the Nansha Islands, for an extended period. The ministry alleged that these actions have "seriously damaged the diversity, stability, and sustainability of the reef ecosystem."

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The Philippines and China have been in a standoff at the Second Thomas Shoal, where Manila maintains the rusting warship BRP Sierra Madre, intentionally grounded in 1999 to reinforce its maritime claims. A small crew is stationed on the ship.

In contrast, China has been dredging sand and coral to build artificial islands in the South China Sea, which it describes as normal construction on its territory. However, other nations argue that these activities are aimed at solidifying China's claims to the waterway. A report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies last year indicated that China's construction activities have buried over 4,600 acres (1,861 hectares) of reef.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a vital waterway through which $3 trillion worth of trade passes annually, including areas claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam. However, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in 2016 that China's expansive claims in the South China Sea had no legal basis, a ruling Beijing does not accept.

The Philippine task force also warned of attempts by "Chinese experts" to spread disinformation and conduct malign influence campaigns. The task force stated that it has evidence of China's responsibility for "severe damage to corals" in several areas of the South China Sea, including Scarborough Shoal and Sabina Shoal.

Last year, the Philippines explored legal options against China, accusing it of destroying coral reefs within its exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea. Beijing dismissed these allegations as attempts to "create political drama."

This ongoing dispute highlights the broader geopolitical tensions in the South China Sea, where environmental concerns are intertwined with issues of sovereignty, economic interests, and regional security. The call for an independent assessment underscores the need for objective analysis in addressing the environmental impacts of activities in this highly contested area.

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