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China's Ministry of Natural Resources, in a comprehensive
report, said Philippine warships have been "illegally beached"
around Second Thomas Shoal near Nansha Islands for a long time,
"and it has seriously damaged the diversity, stability and
sustainability of the reef ecosystem."
There was no immediate comment from the spokespersons of the
Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy on China's claims or
China's report.
The countries have bickered extensively over the Spratly Islands
- called Nansha Islands by China - the Second Thomas Shoal and
Sabina Shoal. These small islands are located in the vast
waterway, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual
shipborne commerce
The Philippines has soldiers living aboard a rusty, aging
warship at the Second Thomas Shoal, which was deliberately
grounded by Manila in 1999 to reinforce its maritime claims.
The report proposes that the Philippines should remove the
"illegal" beached warships to eliminate the source of pollution
and avoid continuing to cause sustained and cumulative harm to
the coral reef ecosystem.
China claims most of the South China Sea as its own territory.
Beijing has rejected a 2016 ruling by The Hague-based Permanent
Court of Arbitration which said its expansive maritime claims
had no legal basis
Both sides have reported coral reef damage from ships and
fishing vessels operating at certain atolls.
China's report said that from 2011 to 2024 coverage of
reef-building corals at the Second Thomas Shoal reef platform
declined about 38.2%
Last year, the Philippines said it was exploring legal options
against China accusing it of destruction of coral reefs within
its exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea.
Over the weekend, the Philippines said China's largest
coastguard vessel had anchored in Manila's exclusive economic
zone in the waterway, a move meant to intimidate.
Despite ongoing altercations, both countries last week agreed
for the need to "restore trust" and "rebuild confidence" to
better manage maritime disputes.
(Reporting by Farah Master and the Beijing newsroom; Writing by
Bernard Orr; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Jacqueline
Wong)
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