China to put up automated underwater base in Manila Trench

China is considering putting up an automated underwater base in Manila Trench for "scientific purposes," an article from the South China Morning Post said.

According to Maki Pulido's report on "State of the Nation Address with Jessica Soho" on Thursday, Manila Trench is an oceanographic feature stretching from the Lingayen Gulf to the island of Mindoro in West Luzon.

China's ambitious project of creating an undersea station comes with the plan of deploying robot submarines as the deep waters have extremely high pressure.

Manila trench is situated near the nine-dash line in China's map which marks the territories they claim in the South China Sea.

The nine-dash line was previously invalidated by the Permanent Court of Arbitration but Beijing refused to recognize the ruling.

Professor Jay Batongbacal, an expert on maritime affairs and law of the sea, said the Philippine government should raise concerns on China's plan even if it was apparently for scientific research purposes only.

"Over the long term, this is going to be part of their [China's] arguments to assert later on that they have actual administration and control of the South China Sea," Batongbacal said.

Damaged ecosystem and food security

Environmental group Best Alternatives said that a huge chunk of the coral reefs in the West Philippine Sea was destroyed after China built its artificial islands in the disputed sea.

A square kilometer of coral reefs is equivalent to 50 tons of fish yields.

Areas reclaimed by China in the West Philippine Sea covers 12 million square kilometers which include Zamora Reef that is almost as big as the whole City of Manila.

"Once wala na 'yun, wala na. Centuries since mag-regrow ang coral reefs," Gregg Yan of Best Alternatives said.

According to Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the production of Lapu-Lapu, Galunggong, and two other species of sardines has been decreasing in the previous years in provinces facing the West Philippine Sea.

To ensure higher yields of fishes and food security, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said municipal waters or waters 15 kilometers off the shore should be well taken care of. 

"Diyan nanggagaling 'yung mga isda. Diyan nag-spawn, diyan nag-lay eggs 'yung milyon-milyon nating mga isda sabihin nating galunggong diyan nag-spawn tapos 'pag lumaki sila nadadagdag sa fish stock natin," BFAR Undersecretary Eduardo Gongona said. —Dona Magsino/ LDF, GMA News