By Diana Mae Y. Cleto
Rival nations in the South China Sea have destroyed nearly 28.3 km2 of coral reefs while constructing artificial islands to reinforce their territorial claims, according to a US-based think tank.
The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) reports that the total area of destroyed reefs increased from 25 km2 at the end of 2023 to 28.3 km2 last year.
“China has caused the most reef destruction, having buried roughly 18.8 km2 of reef since 2013,” the think tank said.
Vietnam follows, having damaged about 9.5 km2, with most of that impact occurring in 2024.
China and Vietnam are responsible for 65% and 33% of the overall reef destruction, respectively.
Malaysia, Taiwan, and the Philippines collectively accounted for less than three per cent of the total damage.
Vietnam’s actions a ‘strategic defense’
Vietnamese researcher Dinh Kim Phuc acknowledged the environmental harm of island-building in the South China Sea but said that Vietnam’s actions “must happen” and are a necessary form of “strategic defense”.
“We cannot place protection of the marine environment alone,” he said.
“We must place it with overall regional security. As long as China does not give up its intention to occupy the entire South China Sea, the sea environment will continue to be destroyed to serve many different purposes.”
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam all have claims in the South China Sea that overlap with China’s broad assertions.
Meanwhile, Indonesia frequently has to deal with Chinese excursions into its exclusive economic zone in the North Natuna Sea, which China also claims.
‘Irreparable damage’ being done to marine ecosystems
AMTI analyzed satellite images to track island construction by China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and the Philippines in the South China Sea.
The think tank said that dredging and landfills have caused “irreparable damage” to marine ecosystems and significantly impacted the overall structure and health of coral reefs in the contested waters.
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