China Denies Philippine Reports Regarding Reclamation in the South China Sea as Baseless Rumors

Philippine coast guard ship BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301). (Wikimedia Commons/Philippine Coast Guard)

JAKARTA - China dismissed Philippine reports regarding reclamation to create artificial islands in the South China Sea as baseless rumors, when Manila said it would tighten guarding of coral reefs, shallow waters and small islands in its exclusive economic zone.

The Philippine Coast Guard on Saturday said it had deployed a ship to Sabina Shoal in the Spratly Islands, where it accused China of building an artificial island, after documenting what they said were piles of dead and crushed coral on a sandbar.

National Security Council (NSC) spokesman Jonathan Malaya on Monday said NSC Chairman Eduardo Ano had ordered tighter security at locations within Manila's 200 nautical mile economic zone, as a long-standing diplomatic row with Beijing escalates.

"No one will look after (this site) except us. Based on international law, our responsibility is to look after (the site) and ensure that the environment there will not be damaged and there will be no reclamation activities," Malaya told a regular television program, reported by Reuters, May 14.

Meanwhile, China's Foreign Ministry on Monday rejected Manila's latest allegations, calling them "baseless rumours."

"Recently, the Philippine side has repeatedly spread rumors, deliberately vilifying China and trying to mislead the international community, to no avail," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said.

He also urged Manila to "get back on the right track in resolving maritime disputes through negotiations and consultations".

Previously, Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela said the presence of coral in the Escoda Shoal or Sabina Shoal had prevented China from carrying out small-scale reclamation, but scientists had to determine whether the coral pile was natural or man-made.

He said the coastguard was committed to maintaining its presence in the shallow waters, which are about 120 nautical miles from the Philippine province of Palawan.

It is known that China claims almost the entire South China Sea, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam, and has carried out massive land reclamation on several islands, building military facilities, raising concerns in Washington and the region.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in 2016 that Beijing's claims in the South China Sea had no basis in international law, a decision China rejected.

Sabina Shoal is a meeting point for ships supplying Philippine troops stationed on warships grounded at Second Thomas Shoal, where Manila and Beijing frequently clash.