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China Accuses Philippine Warships of Damaging South China Sea Reefs

Jul 8, 2024 1 min read

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China's Ministry of Natural Resources has accused the Philippines of causing significant ecological damage in the South China Sea due to the "illegal beaching" of Philippine warships. According to a detailed report from the ministry, the warships have been stationed near Second Thomas Shoal in the Nansha Islands, also known as the Spratly Islands, for an extended period, resulting in "grave damage" to the coral reef ecosystem. The report highlights the presence of abandoned fishing nets, garbage, and metal objects as contributing factors to the pollution and coral reef destruction.

This development exacerbates the ongoing territorial disputes between China and the Philippines over the strategically significant Spratly Islands, which lie in a waterway that supports over $3 trillion in annual maritime trade. China's Ministry has called for the immediate removal of the beached warships to prevent further environmental harm and pollution. While China claims most of the South China Sea as its territory, it continues to reject a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that found its expansive maritime claims had no legal basis. The Philippines has not yet responded to China's allegations or the report.

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