Philippines: China's expansion destroys coral reef, livelihood

By Camille Diola (philstar.com) | Updated April 13, 2015

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario warned that China's reclamation activities in the South China Sea may lead to huge economic losses and livelihood

MANILA, Philippines  — The Philippines on Monday condemned anew China's reclamation in the South China Sea and issued a warning against "irreversible" damage to ecology the activities may cause.

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) remarked on the expansion within Philippine-claimed waters that allegedly violates international law and affects bioversity and ecological balance adversely.

"We cannot accept China's claim that its activities has not caused damage to the ecological environment of the South China Sea," the DFA said.

The agency also called attention to China's disregard for those who depend on the waters for their livelihood.

"China has pursued these activities unilaterally, disregarding peoples in the surrounding states who have depended on the sea for their livelihood for generations," it said.

"The destruction of 300 acres of coral reef systems resulting from the reclamations is estimated to lead to economic losses to coastal states valued at $100 million annually," the DFA added.

Chinese fishermen make use of "environmentally harmful fishing practices" at Scarborough Shoal, which the Philippines calls Bajo de Masinloc, within the country's exclusive economic zone off Zambales province.

The DFA said the illegal fishing practices are tolerated by Beijing even if they breach the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Convention on Biological Biodiversity and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Manila also described China's behavior as "unilateral and aggressive," its reclamation "massive and unrestrained," and its nine-dash line claim "illegitimate."

Military expansion

The DFA also expressed concern over a statement by the Chinese Foreign Ministry last week admitting that the reclamation in the South China Sea  would provide "comprehensive services to meet civilian demands and satisfy the need of necessary military defense."

"Such statements by China only serve to raise the specter of increasing militarization and threaten peace and stability in the region," it said.

It also reminded China of its responsibilities as a party to the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, a non-binding political declaration meant to pave the way for the formulation of a definitive Code of Conduct in the disputed sea.

The statement came a few days after American President Barack Obama criticized China for violating international norms, saying the Asian powerhouse can still be "elbowed" aside to stop bullying its smaller neighbors.

"Where we get concerned with China is where it is not necessarily abiding by international norms and rules and is using its sheer size and muscle to force countries into subordinate positions," Obama said.