20-5-2024 (MANILA) The Philippines has called on China to permit international inspection of the Scarborough Shoal, following allegations that Beijing is causing significant environmental harm to the area. National Security Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya expressed the country’s concerns during a press conference on Monday (May 20).
“We are alarmed and worried about the situation that’s happening there,” Malaya stated, emphasizing the gravity of the environmental damage.
Malaya highlighted a growing consensus within the Philippine government to initiate legal action against China over the destruction of coral reefs and the illegal harvesting of endangered giant clams in the South China Sea.
In 2016, the Philippines achieved a landmark victory when an international tribunal ruled that China’s extensive claims over the South China Sea had no legal basis. Despite this, China has refused to acknowledge the ruling and has been resistant to repeated references to the case by Western countries. Beijing has also consistently denied allegations of environmental destruction in the region.
“If you really believe in what you’re saying, open up Bajo de Masinloc to international scrutiny; it has to be a third party,” Malaya challenged.
The Scarborough Shoal, referred to by the Philippines as Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal, remains a point of contention between the two nations. The call for transparency and third-party assessment aims to address and verify the environmental concerns raised by Manila.
