Beijing rejects ‘groundless’ Philippine claims it is trying to build artificial island in South China Sea

Manila said its coastguard had found crushed corals that had been dumped by Chinese ships around the disputed Sabina Shoal

Tensions between the two countries are running high following a series of clashes in disputed waters

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A picture released by the Philippine coastguard shows personnel monitoring Chinese vessels anchored at Sabina Shoal. Photo: AFP

Published: 7:02pm, 13 May 2024Updated: 9:21am, 15 May 2024

China has denied claims by the Philippine coastguard that it is trying to build an artificial island at the disputed Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea.

On Monday, Wang Wenbin, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, dismissed the claims as “groundless and pure fabrication”.

Wang told a daily press conference: “In recent times, the Philippines has repeatedly spread rumours and deliberately discredited China in a futile attempt to mislead the international community.

“We urge the Philippine side to stop making irresponsible remarks, face up to the facts, and return as soon as possible to the right track of appropriately dealing with disputes at sea through negotiations and consultations.”

On Saturday, Jay Tarriela, a spokesman for the Philippine coastguard, said patrols in recent weeks had “effectively” prevented China’s efforts to reclaim land on the coral atoll – known as Xianbin Jiao in China and Escoda Shoal in the Philippines – in the Spratly Islands chain.

China has been accused of trying to build an artificial island in the Sabina Shoal. Photo: Gallo Images/ Orbital Horizon/ Copernicus Sentinel Data 2021

He said the Philippine coastguard had discovered crushed coral dumped by Chinese ships as part of these reclamation attempts and that patrols would continue to monitor the situation.