Philippines to probe claims of sand dredging for Beijing’s South China Sea expansion
A Philippine intelligence official says sand from Manila Bay and elsewhere may have been used as landfill for Chinese military outposts
Ashley Acedillo, deputy director general of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, told senators that Chinese-linked reclamation and dredging activities had happened in several parts of the country, including Cagayan province.
“There were earlier reports that sand taken directly from our coastal areas was being used as landfill, reportedly even in some of our disputed territories,” Acedillo said during a hearing of a Senate special committee on Philippine maritime and admiralty zones.
While no conclusive evidence has been presented, the intelligence agency is examining whether sand from Philippine sources was exported to support Beijing’s reclamation efforts, which have transformed the maritime landscape of the South China Sea over the past decade.
Press secretary Claire Castro confirmed the president’s directive, saying the investigation would examine any wrongdoing by local officials.