The Philippines is set to take legal action against China for its detrimental actions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), lodging environmental cases before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA).
This decision follows recent findings by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) highlighting extensive damage inflicted by Chinese operations on the marine ecosystems of Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal, both situated within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla affirmed the country’s intent to pursue these cases, citing a substantial body of evidence already in hand. He emphasized that this course of action is distinct from the broader territorial dispute with China, underscoring that “environmental destruction is a transgression against all of humanity.”
Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra corroborated the plan to bring charges against China before the PCA.
Remulla disclosed that the Philippine government has been diligently accumulating evidence of China’s environmentally harmful activities in the WPS over several years, with recent months witnessing a significant acceleration in documentation efforts.
The PCG’s extensive underwater surveys of Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal unveiled a distressing scene, with the marine ecosystem exhibiting signs of profound degradation and, in some areas, an absence of life.
The surveys also uncovered indications of potential dumping of previously processed and cleaned corals onto the seabed, further exacerbating the environmental impact.
Source: PhilNews24 | September 21, 2023
