Beijing Denies Fishing Vessels Are Dumping Raw Waste In Spratlys
BEIJING DENIES DUMPING – Recently, satellite imagery was released showing how large Chinese vessels in the Spartlys were releasing raw waste into the ocean as they were anchored.
According to the images, tons of raw sewage were being dumped which could heavily affect the coral reef system and the marine ecosystem that rely on it. However, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhai Lijian said the claims were merely a poly to defame china.
During a public address, the foreign minister spokesman said: “It is a serious defamation against China… China expresses its strong condemnation“. Furthermore, he reiterated that Beijing had only been working with other countries to keep the peace and stability in the highly contested West Philippine Sea.
Simularity chief executive Liz Derr said in a statement on Monday that the company had satellite images of Chinese fishing boats anchored in the Spratly Islands, pumping out tonnes of raw sewage. For months, the company has been monitoring the vessels in the disputed waters where China, the Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Taiwan all have competing territorial claims.
According to her, the images demonstrated a link between the constant presence of Chinese fishing vessels and the degradation of the surrounding marine environment.
“The sewage from the anchored ships in the Spratlys is damaging the reefs and we can see this from space”, said Derr during a forum hosted by Manila-based think tan, the Stratbase ADR Institute.
The pictures shown in the report were taken on two dated occasions: 14 May 2016, in which algae were small; and 17 June, in the waters of Union Bank 236 Chinese fishing vessels, Johnson South, Landsdowne, Ross and Collins, reefs in Spratlys, stationary.
Thanks for reading. We aim to provide our readers with the freshest and most in-demand content. Come back next time for the latest news here on Philnews.
