Manila: The Philippine government has warned China on its reclamation activities in the South China Sea, saying its actions not only put it at risk of confrontations with nearby countries, but also endangers the ecological balance in the area.
In a statement issue by the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Manila said China’s move to fill partly submerged islands and construct outposts in the middle of the sea, constitutes a hazard to the environment, not only to territories the government in Beijing is claiming as part of Chinese territory, but also to nearby areas.
“South China Sea reclamations are causing irreversible and widespread damage to the biodiversity and ecological balance of the South China Sea/ West Philippine Sea,” the DFA said.
The DFA also claims that the reclamation activities in the South China Sea area, had been undertaken without consultation from other countries claiming sea territories there.
“China has pursued these activities unilaterally, disregarding people in the surrounding states who have depended on the sea for their livelihood for generations. The destruction of 300 hectares of coral reef systems resulting from the reclamations is estimated to lead to economic losses to coastal states valued at $100 million (Dh367.30 million) annually,” the statement from Manila said.
Likewise pointed to China’s track record on enforcing environmental laws, it said China has tolerated environmentally harmful fishing practices by its nationals at Bajo De Masinloc (called Huangyan Island by China).
It said such actions breaches its obligations under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
“We cannot accept China’s claim that its activities have not caused damage to the ecological environment of the South China Sea,” it added.
China had argued the reclamation activities in the South China Sea were aimed at providing its citizens living in Bajo de Masinloc with “services”.
“We are especially concerned by the statement of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson on April 9, 2015 that after completion of their reclamation activities in the South China Sea, the islands and reefs would provide ‘comprehensive services to meet civilian demands and satisfy the need of necessary military defence.’ Such statements by China only serve to raise the spectre of increasing militarisation and threaten peace and stability in the region,” it said.
The bone of contention is China’s activities to reclaim a number of small islands in the Spratlys Chain. Some of these reclaimed territories, such as the Mischief Reef, are close to the Philippines and are within its 200 nautical mile offshore limit set by the UNCLOS. Just as well, it is located in the areas where international commercial shipping passes.
China in recent months had engaged in activities to reclaim islands in the Spratly Chain it believes to be within its territory. It had constructed concrete structures in the middle of the sea, that it claims are shelters for its fishermen. But the Philippines said China was merely trying to expand its territory at the expense of the environment while causing hindrance to freedom of navigation.
