Chinese ship causes P11 million damage to coral reef – report?

MANILA, Philippines — Around P11 million in damages must be paid to the Philippines after the anchor of a Chinese maritime militia vessel that almost skidded at a coral reef near Pag-asa Island in Palawan ruined corals, according to findings by an environmental body.

The parachute anchor of Chinese maritime militia ship with bow number 16868 plowed through corals at Pag-asa Reef 1, around 2.6 kilometers east of Pag-asa Island, at an estimated depth of nine meters last June 7, according to Mark Ace dela Cruz, chief of the habitat management system of the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD).

He pointed out the area was within the territorial sea of Pag-asa Island, which has been trespassed by the Chinese maritime militia.

The anchor, which he explained “was used to limit the drag of the vessel and keep itself afloat,” damaged around 307 square meters of corals where its canopy and nylon ropes dropped.

The six-man team that inspected the area said they saw “broken fragments of branching corals and chipped off fragments of massive corals, both hard and soft.”

Asked why the parachute anchor was not removed during the assessment, Dela Cruz said it was too heavy to carry and equipment would be needed to do so without further damaging the corals.

If left there, the anchor would cause coral bleaching and at the same time ruin more corals if carried by strong waves from storm surges, according to PCSD adviser Benjamin Gonzales.

The group estimated damages to the coral reef worth P11,159,040, he added.

It also recommended to “impose collection of computed penalties to the foreign vessel (and) implement coral rehabilitation program.”

The National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), through assistant director general Cornelio Valencia, condemned the damage caused by the Chinese militia ship that he said was an effect of the “heightened activity by Chinese maritime militia and China Coast Guard vessels.”

He also thanked the fishermen of Pag-asa Island for their “vigilance,” saying it “remains vital in safeguarding our marine resources.”

“Their lived experience at sea reflects not only environmental risks but also daily threats to their safety, livelihood, and dignity,” he added.

For his part, Philippine Coast Guard spokesman on West Philippine Sea issues Commodore Jay Tarriela said the PCSD’s report and recommendations would be referred to the NTF-WPS that includes the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Justice.

“It is up to these two agencies how they can be able to enforce our damage claims,” he noted. ?

No change in policy

The Philippines’ policy and approach in handling the country’s disputes in the West Philippine Sea will not change under the leadership of the country’s new diplomat but diplomacy will still have its dominance.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said Monday the DFA is guided by the mandate of President Marcos, the architect of the Philippine foreign policy.

“Despite the fact that there will be certain differences and challenges we will always one, adhere to international law; two, continue to have the channels of communication with China. Continue with multilateralism and leverage our partnerships,” Lazaro said at a press briefing.

She added that the DFA’s role is as a conduit in capacity building with defense and security agencies.

“That will be something that will be continuing and we will always protest if there is something that is inappropriate or something that is not correct, but again the lines, diplomacy will still have dominance,” Lazaro emphasized.

The Philippine embassy in Beijing asserted the legal authority and significance of the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China’s unlawful and expansive claims in the South China Sea. –  Pia Lee-Brago