(Updated 12:38 p.m.) The Philippines on Monday said it finds “unacceptable” China’s claim that its massive reclamation work in several disputed South China Sea territories are not causing marine environment damage, warning that that coastal states stand to lose $100 million annually from Beijing’s activities.
China’s ongoing reclamation activities, Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said, “are causing irreversible and widespread damage to the biodiversity and ecological balance to waters.”
“We cannot accept China’s claim that its activities has not caused damage to the ecological environment of the South China Sea,” Jose told a press briefing Monday.
The Philippines refers to parts of the South China Sea as West Philippine Sea.