China says grounded Philippine warship harms Second Thomas Shoal marine life and must be removed
- BRP Sierra Madre, long-time outpost in disputed South China Sea waters, is focus of Chinese Ministry of Natural Resources report
The Philippine warship grounded 25 years ago at the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea has caused serious harm to the marine environment and must be removed immediately to stop the damage, the Chinese government said on Monday.
A report released by China’s Ministry of Natural Resources concluded that the BRP Sierra Madre, which the Philippine navy ran aground in 1999 to serve as an outpost in the disputed waters, has “seriously damaged the diversity, stability and sustainability of the coral reef ecosystems”.
It was Beijing’s latest statement regarding the South China Sea hotspot where clashes have occurred repeatedly between China and the Philippines for more than a year.
“The Philippines should remove the warship and eliminate the source of the pollution to avoid persistent and cumulative harm to the coral reef ecosystem of Renai Reef,” the ministry said, referring to the reef by its Chinese name.
“Only by eliminating the source of pollution can we avoid continuing and cumulative harm to the Renai Reef coral reef ecosystem,” Xiong Xiaofei, chief scientist of the South China Sea Ecological Centre, operated under the ministry’s auspices, told state media.
China claims nearly the entire South China Sea but the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam claim various overlapping areas.
The latest conclusion is based on assessments that used satellite sensing technology and on-the-spot studies conducted from April to June this year, the ministry said.
