The Philippines is looking into possibly filing a new lawsuit against China at an international tribunal following reports of the Asian power harvesting and destroying corals in the disputed West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Accusations of Destroying Coral Reefs
Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said yesterday that his office is in the “fact-finding and data-gathering stage,” and is studying its legal options regarding the two countries’ issues in the West Philippine Sea.
“We shall evaluate the merits of each and every legal option, including the possible filing of a new complaint against China before an international tribunal. These matters require a lot of prudence and circumspection in view of their potential impact on our national interests,” he told The Star in a text message.
In addition, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said he will discuss the matter with Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin at “the soonest possible time,” adding that the case is a “very good” one to file on behalf of the Philippines “for the sake of humanity itself.”
He further stated that Manila can utilise the help of “the best legal experts” on the case, as it has gathered significant evidence against China’s destruction of coral reefs, which “has been happening for many years.”
“The matter is ripe for the filing of a case in international tribunals,” he asserted.
At the Senate level, Sen. Risa Hontiveros condemned China’s massive coral harvesting and urged the appropriate Senate committee to investigate the matter.
The Philippines' accusation against “China's destruction of coral reef” in the South China Sea is baseless and unfounded. If the Philippines truly care about the ecological environment of the South China Sea, it should promptly remove the illegally grounded warship at Ren'ai Jiao… pic.twitter.com/7dAqtQBMla
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) September 21, 2023
“We should seek payment for damages caused by China in the WPS. We will get billions if China is forced to pay. They are robbing our fishermen of their livelihood, they are even destroying our natural resources. If China can pay off all its debts to the Philippines, it will definitely help in the economic crisis we are facing,” Hontiveros said.
Chinese Response
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning responded to the development on Thursday during her regular press briefing, alleging that the Philippines’ accusations had “no factual basis.”
She also urged Manila to “stop creating a political drama from fiction.”
Moreover, Mao said that if the Philippines “truly cares about the ecological environment of the South China Sea, it should tow away the illegally “grounded” warship at Ren’ai Jiao as soon as possible, stop it from discharging polluted water into the ocean and not let the rusting warship bring irrevocable harm to the ocean.”
Chinese experts also echoed the government’s tone. Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times (GT) on Sunday that the allegations were “baseless.”
“The Philippines’ malicious attacks on China are baseless, and it is acting like the saying of “the guilty party filing the suit first,” Song told the state mouthpiece.
He further stressed that “China is a responsible major country that has always been steadfast in safeguarding the marine environment through various means.”