(UPDATE) THE Philippines will file environmental cases against China for its destructive activities in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA). Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra confirmed the plan to file charges against China before the PCA. A section of the July 12, 2016 ruling of the Arbitral Tribunal on environmental issues involving China in the South China Sea said, "China had caused severe harm to the coral reef environment." The Tribunal accused China of not fulfilling its obligations to stop such activities and even suggested that Chinese fishermen were allowed to harvest the clams on land features in the South China Sea, where China would soon be building. He said the coral destruction in the South China Sea has been a "half-century-old problem" caused by destructive dynamite and cyanide fishing.

Source: Manila Times September 20, 2023 17:41 UTC