Beijing: China stated on Monday that the “illegal” beaching of Philippine warships at the Nansha islands in the South China Sea has “gravely damaged” the coral reef ecosystem in the area. This assertion comes as both nations engage in a prolonged dispute over territory at various atolls in the expansive waterway.
According to a detailed report by China’s Ministry of Natural Resources, Philippine warships have been “illegally beached” around Second Thomas Shoal near the Nansha Islands for an extended period, resulting in severe harm to the “diversity, stability, and sustainability of the reef ecosystem.”
As of now, there has been no immediate response from the spokespersons of the Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy regarding China’s claims or the contents of the report.
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The Spratly Islands, known as the Nansha Islands in China, along with the Second Thomas Shoal and Sabina Shoal, have been the focal points of extensive disputes between the two countries. These small islands are strategically significant, located in a waterway that facilitates over $3 trillion in annual shipborne trade.
In 1999, the Philippines deliberately grounded an aging warship at the Second Thomas Shoal to reinforce its maritime claims. Soldiers currently live aboard this rusty vessel.
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The Chinese report suggests that the Philippines should remove the “illegal” beached warships to eliminate the source of pollution and prevent further sustained and cumulative damage to the coral reef ecosystem.
China asserts sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, dismissing a 2016 ruling by The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration that declared its extensive maritime claims had no legal foundation.
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Both nations have accused each other of causing coral reef damage through the activities of ships and fishing vessels at specific atolls.
Last year, the Philippines announced it was exploring legal options against China, accusing it of destroying coral reefs within its exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea.
