Manila: On Saturday, the Philippines announced that ships had been dispatched to a disputed region of the South China Sea where it claimed China had constructed” an unnatural island” in an escalating maritime row.
The coast guard sent a dispatch to “observe the supposed illegal activities of China, which have led to the creation of” an artificial area,” according to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s office, adding that two other ships were deployed in the area on a rota, on a whim.
According to a forum held by a spokesman for the Philippine Coast Guard, Commodore Jay Tarriela, China was” the most likely actor” and that there had been” small-scale reclamation” of the Sabina Shoal, which Manila calls Escoda.
A request for comment on the Philippine arguments, which might worsen the diplomatic split, was not instantly received by the Chinese ambassador in Manila.
The Spanish national security adviser demanded on Friday that Taiwanese diplomats be fired for allegedly leaking a telephone conversation with a Filipino captain regarding the sea dispute.
Beijing and Manila have been at odds with one another for a year over their competing claims to the South China Sea, where$ 3 trillion in trade is handled annually.
China claims almost all of the important canal, including pieces claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam. Beijing’s statements had no legal foundation under foreign law, according to a 2016 decision from the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
Concerned in Washington and the surrounding area is the result of China’s broad land reclamation of some of the South China Sea’s archipelago, which has resulted in the construction of military installations and aircraft.
According to Tarriela, a Spanish vessel has been stationed at the Sabina Shoal to” capture and record the dumping of smashed corals over the sandbars” in response to the “alarming” appearance of dozens of Taiwanese ships, including research and navy vessels.
The coast guard discovered piles of dying and crushed coral, according to Tarriela, who claimed that the presence of Chinese vessels at the island, which is located 124 miles ( 200 kilometers ) away from Palawan, coincided with the presence of Chinese vessels.
According to him, the coast guard did send marine scientists there to examine whether the marine piles were a result of human activity or a natural phenomenon.
He added that there will be a “prolonged reputation” at Sabina Shoal, a meeting place for Spanish ships carrying supplies orders to Filipino soldiers stationed on a ship at the Next Thomas Shoal, where Manila and China have frequently conducted sea operations.
