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The Philippines has strongly criticized China for the installation of what they have referred to as a "floating barrier" in a disputed area of the South China Sea, according to CNN.
The floating barrier was found by Philippine warships on Friday during a normal marine sweep, according to a statement by Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela on X, previously known as Twitter. It was around 300 metres (984 feet) in length. Bajo de Masinloc, also known as the Scarborough Shoal, is a small but strategic reef and fertile fishing ground 130 miles (200 kilometers) west of the Philippine island of Luzon. The shoal, which China calls Huangyandao, is one of a number of disputed islands and reefs in the South China Sea, which is home to various territorial disputes. The Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources strongly condemn the China Coast Guards installation of a floating barrier in the Southeast portion of Bajo de Masinloc, which prevents Filipino fishing boats from entering the shoal and depriving them of their fishing and livelihood activities, the statement read. Following the arrival of a Philippine government vessel in the region, according to images given by Tarriela showing the purported floating barrier and claims made by three Chinese coast guard boats and a Chinese maritime militia service boat, the floating barrier was built, CNN reported. This Monday, the Philippine coast guard released a video showing extensive swaths of shattered and bleached coral, leading authorities to charge China with widespread devastation in the region. ThePhilippineshas accusedChina's shadowymaritime militiaof causing extensivecoral reef destructionin the SouthChina Sea, which has ignited a public dispute between the two nations. Videos released by the Philippine Coast Guard have revealed substantial damage to coral reefs along the Rozul (Iroquois) Reef and Sabina (Escoda) Shoal in the SouthChinaSea. These underwater features fall within thePhilippines' internationally recognizedexclusive economic zone(EEZ) and are located near Palawan, a southwestern island chain facing the SouthChinaSea. However,Chinaasserts sovereignty over a significant portion of the SouthChinaSea, challenging competing claims by neighbouring countries and international rulings. Between August 9 and September 11, the Philippine coast guard reported monitoring 33 Chinese vessels nearRozul Reefand approximately 15 Chinese ships in the vicinity of Escoda Shoal. The presence of crushed corals strongly suggests potential dumping, possibly involving dead corals that were previously processed and then returned to the seabed. The Philippine military had previously accusedChina'smaritime militiaof causing extensive destruction in the area. However,Chinainitially remained silent on the allegations until its foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, refuted the claims as "false and groundless." Mao advised Philippine authorities not to utilize fabricated information for political purposes, according to CNN. Chinahas asserted "indisputable sovereignty" over a vast portion of the SouthChinaSea, including the Spratly chain, which consists of 100 small islands and reefs. These territorial claims are contested, in full or part, by thePhilippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. China's actions in the SouthChinaSea, including the construction of military installations on reefs and atolls, have challenged not only thePhilippines' sovereignty but also themarine biodiversity of the highly disputed region. (ANI)
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