PH hits China for coral damage: 'Close to catastrophic'

From Rappler (Nov 27): PH hits China for coral damage: 'Close to catastrophic'

In The Hague, the Philippines also slams China's 'deliberate policy to physically expel' Filipinos from parts of the West Philippine Sea



PHILIPPINE TEAM. The Philippines’ lead counsel against China, Paul Reichler (1st from right), speaks with Professor Philippe Sands (2nd) while Professor Alan Boyle (3rd) is in the background as Manila presents its arguments against Beijing in The Hague. Photo by Abigail Valte

The Philippines earlier said China's reclamation activities have destroyed 311 hectares of coral reefs in the West Philippine Sea.

During Thursday's hearing, Philippine advocate Alan Boyle also “presented to the tribunal the damage China has done to the marine ecosystem.”

 

Boyle cited examples of harmful fishing practices employed by China, “such as blast fishing, cyanide fishing, harvesting of giant clams, and catching of turtles and other endangered species.”

 

He said China “is responsible for its failure to prevent its fishermen and vessels from engaging in illegal fishing activities.”

 

‘Deliberate policy’ to expel Filipinos

 

“Boyle stated that, if unchecked, China’s activities will continue to pose a significant threat to the marine environment of the South China Sea and of all the states which border the sea,” he said, according to Valte.

 

At the same time, the Philippine team presented other moves by China “which aggravated and extended the dispute.”

 

Philippine team member Bernard Oxman, for one, cited instances when China blocked the Philippines from entering Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) to resupply its troops there.

 

“Oxman stressed that China’s denial of access forms part of ‘a deliberate policy to physically expel the Philippines and its nationals’ from the disputed features and its surrounding waters,” Valte said.

 

Boyle also pointed out “the series of near-collisions” between Philippine and Chinese vessels in April and May 2012.

 

These incidents happened in Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea, the site of a standoff between Philippine and Chinese vessels in April 2012 that heightened the sea dispute and eventually led to the filing of the case at The Hague.

 

“These incidents, according to Boyle, displayed China’s ‘deliberate disregard for international law’ on the safety of maritime vessels,” Valte said.

 

A day earlier, the Philippines told the tribunal in The Hague that China’s island building activities have destroyed the seabed in the South China Sea.

 

Before this, the Philippines complained to the tribunal that China has robbed it of its right to fish in the contested waters.

 

The hearings on the merits of the Philippines case will resume and end on Monday, November 30, Valte said.

 

http://www.rappler.com/nation/114149-philippines-china-hague-coral-damage-catastrophic