China’s reported dredging activities in at least 10 South China Sea reefs can bolster Manila’s arbitration case against Beijing if verified by the Philippine government, Malacañang said Thursday.
At a press briefing, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said that China’s supposed dredging of white sand to build artificial islands in disputed areas is a violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which the Philippines used as basis for its arbitration case against China.
“Kailangan lang ay maverify pa kung saan-saang lugar mayroong isinasagawang aktibidad na katulad niyan dahil kung mabeberipika, dagdag pang information yan na maaaring mailahad sa ating petisyon,” Coloma told reporters.
The Palace official maintained that the Philippines opposes any dredging activities in disputed territories, especially due to the environmental damage caused by such activities.
“In general, isa sa inilahad nating posisyon ng bansa ay ang pagtutol sa mga isinasagawang aktibidad dahil nga ito ay nakakapinsala sa natural habitat ng aquatic resources,” Coloma said.
He added that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is still verifying if the floaters recently recovered in Zambales’ waters were indeed used for Chinese dredging activities.
Reclamation activities
Reclamation activities
At a forum on Wednesday, Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said China had dredged 10 reefs for sand used to reclaim contested parts of the South China Sea. The Philippines refers to parts of the South China Sea as West Philippine Sea.
China has supposedly undertaken reclamation work in seven disputed reefs in contested waters.
The Philippines is currenty waiting for a ruling from the arbitral tribunal based in The Netherlands on whether or not it will exercise its jurisdiction over the arbitration case against China. Beijing has refused to participate in the arbitration proceedings.
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/530907/news/nation/china-s-reported-dredging-activities-can-bolster-phl-s-arbitration-case-palace
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