South China Sea: Philippines urged to forge global cooperation over marine life damage

The damage to coral reefs and other marine life in the South China Sea has been accelerated by Beijing’s reclamation efforts, analysts say

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A Philippine fishing boat near the Chinese-controlled Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. Photo: AFP

Published: 5:00pm, 2 Sep 2024

The Philippines has been urged to boost international cooperation on protecting the South China Sea’s marine ecosystem which analysts say is critical to end the destruction caused by Beijing’s continuous land reclamation in the disputed territory.

“As we fight to assert our rights and safeguard our marine environment, collaborating with key stakeholders in the government, the private sector, and the international community is crucial,” Dindo Manhit, president of the Stratbase ADR Institute think tank, said at a marine conservation forum last week.

Thousands of acres of coral reef are believed to have been destroyed by China’s land reclamation efforts in the West Philippine Sea, Manila’s term for the part of the South China Sea within its exclusive economic zone.

These efforts involved dredging and building artificial islands atop coral reefs, which crushed and suffocated the corals, causing extensive ecological damage, according to marine life experts who spoke at the forum. These islands were then militarised with runways, radar systems, and missile installations to bolster China’s territorial claims in the disputed waters.

Experts say multilateral environmental agreements are essential in holding countries such as China accountable for violating their obligations to protect the marine environment.