China blames military drills for reef damage around disputed shoal
Tweet
Share
E-mailBEIJING, Dec 29 (Reuters) - China said without naming any country that military activities such as bomb-dropping training in the waters around Scarborough Shoal have damaged the coral reefs there, state broadcaster CCTV said on Monday citing an ecological report.
The report, conducted by the country's natural resources ministry, also said that "illegal fishing" and frequent intrusion activities in recent years have threatened the ecosystem around the shoal.
China and the Philippines both claim territorial rights to Scarborough Shoal, one of Asia's most contested maritime features prized for its rich fisheries, its protective lagoon and proximity to major shipping lanes. But sovereignty has never been established.
It is effectively under Beijing's control although Filipino boats continue to operate there.
In September, China approved the creation of a national nature reserve at the shoal, a plan the Philippines condemned as a "clear pretext for occupation".
(Reporting by Liz Lee and Qiaoyi Li; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)
Serious News for Serious Traders! Try StreetInsider.com Premium Free!
You May Also Be Interested In
- Oil falls 1% ahead of US announcement to impose further sanctions on Iran
- Soccer-UEFA's Ceferin says Infantino could face election challenger, rules out FIFA bid
- Soccer-Embattled Infantino says FIFA must close financial gap between 'big countries' and 'others'
Create E-mail Alert Related Categories
ReutersSign up for StreetInsider Free!
Receive full access to all new and archived articles, unlimited portfolio tracking, e-mail alerts, custom newswires and RSS feeds - and more!
