South China Sea: Philippines calls for Beijing to prove Scarborough Shoal is undamaged

Philippine officials said on Monday they were ‘alarmed’ by Chinese activities at Scarborough Shoal, which Manila has accused Beijing of destroying

A coastguard spokesman said there was ‘clear evidence of being careless’. ‘They don’t really care about the marine environment,’ he said

2-MIN READ2-MIN

A journalist takes a photo of a presentation by the Philippine coastguard on Monday showing alleged Chinese activities in Scarborough Shoal. Photo: AFP

Published: 3:29pm, 20 May 2024Updated: 3:31pm, 20 May 2024

The Philippines challenged China on Monday to open Scarborough Shoal to international scrutiny after it accused Beijing of destroying the shoal’s marine environment.

Maritime tension has been rising in the South China Sea between Manila and Beijing, as the Philippines has accused China of using water cannon and blocking manoeuvres through disputed shoals and reefs.

Control of the Scarborough Shoal, seized by China in 2012, figured in the Philippines case at a Hague arbitration tribunal, which ruled in 2016 that Beijing’s claim to 90 per cent of the South China Sea had no basis in international law.

“We are alarmed and worried about the situation that’s happening there,” Philippine National Security spokesman Jonathan Malaya told a press conference.

Government consensus was growing on the need to file a case against China over the destruction of coral reefs, including the harvesting of endangered giant clams, in the South China Sea, Malaya added.

Photographs taken by the Philippine coastguard from 2018 to 2019 showed individuals it said were Chinese fishermen illegally harvesting giant clams, sting rays, topshells and sea turtles depleting the shoal’s marine environment.

They don’t really care about the marine environment

Philippine coastguard spokesman Jay Tarriela