[ad_1]
More importantly, the environmental damage caused by China’s claim that the “Seremadre Island” stranded on Second Thomas Shoal and its related human activities pales in comparison to the damage caused by the construction of artificial islands by the South China Sea claimants.
The report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies pointed out that China has caused the most serious damage to coral reefs through dredging and landfilling, filling about 4,648 acres (equivalent to more than 3,500 football fields) of coral reefs; followed by Vietnam (1,402 acres, equivalent to more than 1,000 football fields); Malaysia (83 acres, equivalent to more than 62 football fields); and the Philippines (40 acres, equivalent to more than 30 football fields).
Not surprisingly, China denies the findings, calling them neither real nor verifiable, and emphasizes its efforts to protect marine species in the South China Sea. But the fact is that the damage caused by China’s artificial island construction undermines its environmental protection claims at Scarborough Shoal.
With both sides at loggerheads, China’s environmental report is unlikely to allay Philippine concerns about damage to marine life around Scarborough Shoal. Manila also appears eager to file another legal case against China in an effort to bring a new round of international pressure on Beijing.
Lye Liang Fook is a senior fellow at the Regional Strategic and Political Studies Programme at the Yusof Ishak Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. First appearance On Fulcrum, the blog of ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.
[ad_2]
Source link
