China denies damaging corals, tells Philippines to tow BRP Sierra Madre

The Philippines' allegations that the Chinese were responsible for the damage to corals in the West Philippine Sea have "no factual basis," a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the Philippines, if it cared about the environment, should remove the BRP Sierra Madre from the Ayungin Shoal, the formation that China called Ren’ai Jiao. 

"The Philippines’ accusations have no factual basis. We urge relevant party of the Philippines to stop creating a political drama from fiction," Mao said when asked about the Philippines' plan to file a complaint versus China over the damaged corals.

"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," she added.

Mao said the Philippines should stop the vessel "from discharging polluted water into the ocean and not let the rusting warship bring irrevocable harm to the ocean."

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it is waiting for the assessment of concerned agencies on the environmental damage in Rozul Reef.

In a statement, it cited Article 192 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea that obliges States to protect and preserve the marine environment.

"As clarified by the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea, this obligation applies in all maritime areas, both inside the national jurisdiction of States and beyond it. States entering the Philippines’ EEZ and maritime zones therefore are likewise obliged to protect and preserve our marine environment," it said.

The DFA also said it is prepared to contribute to the efforts being explored by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) as to the legal options the country may pursue.

Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra on Wednesday said his office was considering filing a new complaint against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration over the reported damage to corals in the West Philippine Sea.

“The OSG is in the midst of a full-blown study on our legal options regarding the West Philippine Sea, including the filing of a new complaint with the Permanent Court of Arbitration,” Guevarra told GMA News Online.

Asked what will be the specific concerns that will be raised in the complaint, Guevarra said, "We’re not yet there. We’re still gathering relevant information from all available sources."

The Philippines first filed a complaint against China in 2013 for its massive claims in the South China Sea under its nine-dash line claim.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of the Philippines, invalidated Beijing's claim, and said that its nine-dash line has no legal basis under international law.  —NB, GMA Integrated News