Explosive Revelations: China's Secret Militia Wreaks Havoc on Coral Reefs in South China Sea

The South China Sea and the Philippines have witnessed a distressing transformation over the past two years. Once thriving with vibrant reefs teeming with colorful fish and seaweed, they now resemble desolate wastelands of crushed corals. The Philippines claims to have pinpointed the entity responsible for this devastation - China's secretive maritime militia. This accusation has been met with denial by China, further escalating the ongoing disputes between the two countries concerning this contentious region.

Videos released on Monday by the Philippine Coast Guard showcased extensive areas of bleached corals found at the Rozul (Iroquios) Reef and Sabina (Escoda) Shoal in the South China Sea. These underwater features are located within the internationally recognized exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines. Despite being close to Palawan, the southwestern island chain of the Philippines facing the South China Sea, Beijing asserts its ownership over the majority of this crucial and strategic waterway, disregarding competing claims by neighboring countries and a ruling from the international community.

Commodore Jay Tarriela, the spokesperson for the coast guard, stated that divers had conducted "underwater surveys" of the seabed. They observed "visible discoloration," indicating intentional activities aimed at altering the natural terrain. Tarriela further mentioned, "The ongoing presence and illegal and destructive fishing activities of the Chinese Maritime Militia in Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal may have directly resulted in the deterioration and destruction of the marine environment in the areas known as the West Philippine Sea, as designated by Manila."

Bleached coral fragments have piled up around Rozul (Iroquios) Reef, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.

Between August 9 and September 11, the Philippine Coast Guard tracked 33 Chinese vessels near Rozul Reef and approximately 15 Chinese ships close to Escoda Shoal.

Tarriela suggested that the presence of crushed corals indicates a potential act of dumping, possibly involving the same dead corals that had been previously processed and cleaned before being returned to the seabed. The Philippine military, on the other hand, accused China's maritime militia of causing extensive destruction in the area last Saturday.

Chinese authorities refrained from publicly addressing the allegations until Thursday, when the foreign ministry was questioned during the routine daily briefing regarding the coral destruction. Spokesperson Mao Ning responded to reporters, dismissing the claims made by the Philippine side as unfounded and baseless. Additionally, he advised the Philippine authorities against employing fabricated information to orchestrate a political spectacle.

Beijing asserts its "indisputable sovereignty" over nearly all of the 1.3 million square miles in the South China Sea, as well as the majority of islands and sandbars within it. This encompasses features that are located hundreds of miles away from China's mainland, including the Spratlys, an archipelago comprising 100 small islands and reefs. The Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan also lay claim to these islands, either in full or in part.

In the past twenty years, China has occupied several reefs and atolls in the South China Sea, constructing military facilities such as runways and ports. These actions not only challenge the sovereignty and fishing rights of the Philippines but also pose a threat to the marine biodiversity in this hotly contested, resource-rich waterway.

Some of the atolls and islands that were built on saw sustained land reclamation take place, often with reefs being destroyed first and then built on.

China reclaimed land on Fiery Cross Reef in the western part of the Spratly Islands group and built a runway that was completed in 2018.

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The Philippines secured a significant victory in 2016 when an international tribunal in The Hague ruled in their favor, stating that China lacks a lawful foundation to assert historical rights over the majority of the South China Sea. However, China has chosen to disregard this ruling and persists in strengthening its presence within the disputed territory.

A wake-up call

The recent Philippine coastguard footage of broken and bleached coral is in stark contrast to just two years ago.

In 2021, the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute conducted a survey of a section of the Rozul (Iroquios) Reef. The expedition, which was funded by the country's National Security Council and carried out on board M/Y Panata, captured videos and photos showing the reef adorned with vibrant red and purple corals, along with aquatic algae and moss along its surface.

The surveyed area was found to have a reef ecosystem comprising corals, benthic animals, fishes, seaweeds, and other marine organisms. However, the institute did not provide any comments on the current state of the reef due to the information obtained from the Philippine army and coast guard being outside its scope. Nonetheless, the institute expressed its willingness to collaborate with other agencies in order to verify and analyze the effects of recent activities in the area. This situation underscores the importance of ongoing monitoring and increased support for Marine Scientific Research conducted by Filipino scientists, particularly in the West Philippine Sea.

The UP Marine Science Institute found vibrant corals in the Rozul (Iroquios) Reef in the South China Sea in May 2021.

CNN Philippines reported that signs of marine degradation have highlighted the dangers of coral harvesting in the area, leading to concerns among Filipino senators about China's potential plans to militarize the atolls through reclamation.

"This serves as a wake-up call," expressed Gerry Arances, the executive director of the Center for Energy, Ecology and Development (CEED).

According to Arances, the visuals have revealed the detrimental effects on marine life caused by China's construction of island facilities in the surrounding waters, regular patrols by militia vessels, and extensive commercial fishing activities.

"It exposes numerous flaws in terms of monitoring, regulating, and safeguarding marine biodiversity," he stated.

Western experts in marine security, in collaboration with officials from the Philippines and the United States, have progressively alleged that Beijing employs ostensibly civilian fishing vessels as a maritime militia. This covert force serves as an unofficial - yet officially deniable - means for China to assert its territorial claims, not only in the South China Sea but also in other regions.

Chinese fishing vessels, known as Beijing's "little blue men", have been implicated in confrontations with fishing vessels from Indonesia and Vietnam in disputed waters. The Philippines recently reported a clash between Chinese coastguard and Philippine vessels, which involved at least two fishing vessels resembling the characteristic blue-hulled Chinese ships.

Ray Powell, the director of SeaLight at the Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation at Stanford University, stated that there has been a global failure to address China's actions in the South China Sea. Powell highlighted China's militarization of the reefs and shoals, transforming natural marine features into military installations. He also noted that many environmental advocacy groups have been silenced in their response to this issue. Powell further emphasized that the Philippines' efforts to seek transparency regarding China's activities in the disputed waters have garnered international support from its allies in affirming its territorial sovereignty.

On April 23, 2023, a photograph was captured showcasing the BRP Sierra Madre, a Philippine navy ship grounded at Second Thomas Shoal in the disputed Spratly Islands of the South China Sea. This ship serves as a strategic location for marines stationed there, asserting Manila's territorial claims. Inviting various media outlets, AFP joined a patrol of the South China Sea, covering a distance of 1,670 kilometers (1,040 miles) and visiting multiple islands and reefs. It is worth noting that Beijing claims sovereignty over the entire South China Sea, including the Spratly Islands, despite an international ruling that deems this assertion legally baseless. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP) / This content accompanies an AFP SPECIAL REPORT by Cecil MORELLA. (Photo by TED ALJIBE/AFP via Getty Images)

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'Little blue men': Is a militia Beijing says doesn't exist causing trouble in the South China Sea?

At least two foreign ambassadors in Manila have voiced their concern about the devastation of marine resources in the South China Sea.

MaryKay Carlson, the United States Ambassador to the Philippines, expressed her troubles over the damaging reports of coral destruction around the reefs in a post on X, previously referred to as Twitter.

"We are deeply concerned about the damage to habitats, which has severe implications for ecosystems and has a detrimental impact on people's lives and livelihoods. Our collaboration with our #FriendsPartnersAllies is aimed at safeguarding the natural resources of [the Philippines]," she stated on Monday.

Expressing his distress, Japanese Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa emphasized the urgency of safeguarding "these crucial ecosystems," referring to the development as "highly worrisome news."

The Philippines, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, has repeatedly expressed concern about ecologically damaging activities by foreign vessels in its maritime zones. This issue arose during the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte, who aimed to strengthen relations with Beijing and collaborate on oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea. This move sparked a debate among Filipinos regarding the validity of supporting China's aspirations in the contested region.

Pictured on April 23, 2023, is the grounded Philippine navy ship Sierra Madre. This ship serves as Manila's means to assert its territorial claims at Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands within the disputed South China Sea.

The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative reports that the Philippines controls nine features in the Spratly chain, while China controls seven. However, China, referring to the island chain as the Nansha Islands, has significantly developed and fortified its claims in the area. This includes the construction of military bases on Subi Reef, Johnson Reef, Mischief Reef, and Fiery Cross Reef.

Contrarily, Thitu Reef stands as the sole Philippine-controlled feature equipped with a runway.

Back in 1999, Filipino marines intentionally grounded the navy transport ship, BRP Sierra Madre, on Second Thomas Shoal. This assertive move aimed to assert the nation's territorial claim over the area.

During the press briefing on Thursday, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson brought up the Sierra Madre, emphasizing that in order to address the ecological concerns in the South China Sea, the Philippines should promptly remove the warships that are unlawfully stationed on Renai Reef. Additionally, China urges the Philippines to cease discharging sewage into the sea and take necessary measures to prevent further irreversible damage caused by the corroding warships.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ensured that the country's National Security Team regularly disseminates their findings regarding the events occurring in the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, according to Powell. "The transparency policy implemented by the Philippine government has garnered significant domestic and international support, enabling it to assert its stance," he added.