8-7-2024 (BEIJING) Tensions have escalated in the long-standing territorial dispute over the South China Sea, with China accusing the Philippines of causing severe damage to coral reef ecosystems through the “illegal” beaching of warships in the Nansha islands.
In a comprehensive report released on Monday, China’s Ministry of Natural Resources alleged that Philippine warships have been “illegally beached” around Second Thomas Shoal near the Nansha Islands (also known as the Spratly Islands) for an extended period, “gravely damaging the diversity, stability, and sustainability of the reef ecosystem.”
The report comes as both nations continue to tussle over contested territories in the vast waterway, with the Spratly Islands, Second Thomas Shoal, and Sabina Shoal being at the center of the ongoing maritime dispute.
There has been no immediate response from the spokespersons of the Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy regarding China’s claims or the report’s findings.
The bickering between the two countries over these small islands and atolls has been a longstanding issue, as the South China Sea serves as a crucial conduit for more than $3 trillion in annual shipborne commerce.
The Philippines has maintained a presence on the Second Thomas Shoal, with soldiers living aboard a rusty, aging warship that was deliberately grounded by Manila in 1999 to reinforce its maritime claims.
China’s report proposes that the Philippines should remove these “illegal” beached warships to eliminate the source of pollution and prevent further sustained and cumulative harm to the coral reef ecosystem.
The South China Sea dispute has long been a contentious issue, with China claiming most of the waterway as its own territory. Beijing has rejected a 2016 ruling by The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration, which stated that China’s expansive maritime claims had no legal basis.
Both sides have accused each other of causing coral reef damage from ships and fishing vessels operating in certain atolls.
Last year, the Philippines indicated that it was exploring legal options against China, accusing it of destroying coral reefs within its exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea.
