2024-07-08 16:04:00
As the confrontation between China and the Philippines continues in the South China Sea, Chinese officials issued a report stating that the Philippine warships beached on Second Thomas Shoal (known as Ayunjin Reef in the Philippines) seriously damaged the coral reef ecosystem in the area and avoided harming the ecology. , calling on the Philippines to remove the warships sitting on the beach.
Scholars interviewed analyzed that China is trying to show that it is standing on the moral high ground through this report.Responding to Philippines’ accusations once morest China’s actions on Second Thomas Shoal; However, if China steps up its efforts to obstruct the Philippines’ supply operations on the grounds of ecological protection, the situation may further escalate.
The South China Sea Ecology Center of the Ministry of Natural Resources of China and the South China Sea Development Research Institute of the Ministry of Natural Resources jointly released the “Investigation Report on the Illegal “Setting on the Beach” of Warships Destroying the Coral Reef Ecosystem on Ren’ai Reef on Monday (July 8).
Li Tuanjie, director of the South China Sea Ecological Center of the Ministry of Natural Resources, said that from April to June this year, researchers used satellite remote sensing and on-site surveys to investigate and evaluate the status of the Ren’ai Reef coral reef ecosystem.
The “Report” stated that the Philippine warships on the beach “severely damaged the diversity, stability and sustainability of the coral reef ecosystem of Second Thomas Shoal”. Relevant damages include that the coral coverage area of Ren’ai Reef has decreased by 38.2% between 2011 and 2024; the content of heavy metals and oil in the seawater in the reef area is significantly higher than the historical record before the warships landed on the beach, etc.
The “Report” believes that the main reason for the damage and degradation of the coral reef ecosystem in the area is “the illegal beaching of warships and related human activities.”
Li Tuanjie said: “The Philippines should clear away the illegally beached warships, eliminate the source of pollution, and avoid continuing to cause sustained and cumulative harm to the coral reef ecosystem of Second Thomas Shoal.”
In 1999, the Philippines towed a warship into the South China Sea and deliberately ran it aground on Second Thomas Shoal, thus establishing actual control over the waters. The disputed waters are within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, but China also claims sovereignty over the waters and has repeatedly asked the Philippines to remove the stranded warship.
China and the Philippines have frequently had frictions since last year over the Philippines’ supply of warships on the beach. The most recent conflict between the two sides was on June 17.Eight Filipino soldiers injured in clashes.
Xu Ruilin, a senior researcher at the S. S. Rajaratnam Institute of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, who has long studied maritime security, pointed out in an interview with Lianhe Zaobao that the Philippines has adopted a “transparent strategy” on the Second Thomas Shoal issue since last year, releasing videos of the friction between the two sides and leading the Journalists participate in supply missions to gain a preemptive advantage.
He said that China has been struggling to cope and lacks effective response measures. “This report stands on the moral high ground by talking regarding the environment and aims to counter the Philippines’ discourse.”
When interviewed, Luo Minghui, assistant professor of the Public Policy and Global Affairs Course at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, also agreed that China is looking for other ways to deal with the Second Thomas Shoal issue.Increase pressure on the Philippines and legitimize it.
He said that this can provide cover for China’s actions, “because China can say that this is not just a territorial issue, but regarding ecology, regarding environmental issues that every country should be concerned regarding, including the Philippines.”
The Philippines and China held a bilateral meeting in Manila on July 2 to cool down recent tensions in the South China Sea. However, Xu Ruilin judged that if China releases an ecological report at this point in time, the Philippines is expected to respond. “Neither side will compromise on their basic positions.”
He is also worried that if China becomes more forceful in blocking the Philippines’ supply operations in the name of protecting the ecology, this will force Manila to show its cards, which may lead to further escalation of the situation at Second Thomas Shoal.
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