The Philippines is actively exploring various legal avenues against China, alleging the destruction of coral reefs within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea. China has dismissed these allegations, characterizing them as an attempt to "create political drama."
The Philippines' Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a late Thursday statement, expressed its intention to await assessments from different agencies concerning the extent of environmental damage at Iroquois Reef in the Spratly Islands. They also mentioned that Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra would provide guidance in this matter.
On Friday, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra indicated that the Philippines is considering the possibility of initiating a second legal case before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague. This move comes after the Philippines won its first case, filed in 2013, challenging China's territorial claims in the region.
Guevarra explained that the decision to study this possibility arose not only from the allegations of reef destruction but also from other incidents and the overall situation in the West Philippine Sea. A report and recommendation will be submitted to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the foreign ministry. The term "West Philippine Sea" is used by Manila to refer to the portion of the South China Sea it claims.
The Department of Foreign Affairs affirmed its readiness to contribute to these efforts and emphasized that states operating within the Philippines' EEZ and maritime zones are obligated to protect and preserve the marine environment.
It should be noted that any move toward arbitration would be contentious, given the Philippines' landmark 2016 victory in a case against China, which concluded that China's claim to sovereignty over most of the South China Sea lacked a basis under international law.
Iroquois Reef is situated near Reed Bank, where the Philippines aspires to access gas reserves, a plan complicated by China's territorial claim to the area.
China, which has refused to acknowledge the 2016 ruling and has expressed discontent over Western powers repeatedly referring to the case, denied the recent allegations of coral reef destruction. The Chinese embassy in Manila urged the relevant Philippine party to cease creating a political spectacle based on fiction, quoting Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning.
The Philippines' coast guard and armed forces recently reported "severe damage inflicted upon the marine environment and coral" at Iroquois Reef. They asserted that 33 Chinese vessels had been anchored in the area in August and September, referring to these vessels as "maritime militia" and accusing them of coral harvesting. Coral from the South China Sea has been used for various purposes, including construction materials, traditional medicines, and souvenirs.
China has asserted its sovereignty claims over the Spratly area by constructing a series of artificial islands on submerged reefs, some equipped with runways, hangars, radar systems, and missile installations. Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines also maintain a presence on islands within this archipelago, leading to overlapping EEZs for several countries.
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