Disputes over the South China Sea are growing between China and the Philippines, recently embroiled in heated debates. One side claims the other damages the corals and the surrounding environment in the occupied areas.
According to the Philippine government and local sources, the Philippines has refuted China’s claim that it is polluting the environment in the Second Thomas Shoal of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. The Philippine government refuted that the Chinese report was false and led in the wrong direction.
The Chinese report revealed that the area covered by corals has significantly decreased by 87% over the last 13 years due to the Philippines’ (illegally) stranded warship. China grounded its claims on an investigation that surveyed the seabed within a 400-meter radius of the warship stranded at the Second Thomas Shoal.
It also pointed out that the quality of the surrounding waters has been deteriorating due to the warship’s corrosion and sewage. The claims come as part of an investigation jointly carried out by the South China Sea Ecological Center and the South China Sea Development Research Institute from China’s Ministry of Natural Resources. The two institutes recently published a report on their extensive findings.
In the report, they pointed out that “the diversity, stability, and sustainability of the coral reef ecosystem near Second Thomas Shoal have been seriously damaged for a long time due to the illegal occupation by the Philippine warship” and that “the area of coral reefs near Lunaijiao has significantly decreased, especially where the warship has illegally occupied, the damage to the coral reefs is noticeable.”
“The main cause of the destruction of the coral reef ecosystem of Second Thomas Shoal is the illegal occupation of the Philippine warship and related human activities,” and “The Philippine warship has brought fatal destruction to this marine ecosystem.”
Meanwhile, the Philippine government is investigating coral damage, asserting that China is conducting reclamation activities in other areas of the South China Sea. The Philippine side stated, “China is causing serious damage to the coral reefs in the South China Sea through illegal fishing and other activities,” and claimed, “Chinese state media and experts are disseminating fake news and misinformation.”
Last month, the Chinese coast guard and the Philippines were physically confrontative. The Chinese Coast Guard blocked a routine rotation and resupply mission by the Philippines stationed troops at Second Thomas Shoal. The Philippine military stated, “The Chinese coast guard wielded knives, axes, and other weapons, attacking unarmed soldiers.” They claimed that during this incident, one Filipino soldier had a finger severed, and eight others were injured.
