Gibo lambasts China’s remarks vs. BRP Sierra Madre causing harm in WPS: ‘Hypocritical’

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. lambasted China for blaming the BRP Sierra Madre grounded on the Second Thomas (Ayungin) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea as the "pollutant" in the waters.

Teodoro burst out after Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning claimed that BRP Sierra Madre was the one causing sea waste in the WPS.

"The statement of China that the grounded Sierra Madre is causing irrevocable harm is to put it as politely as possible—hypocritical," Teodoro, told reporters on Saturday, reacting to Mao Ning's statement on the Philippine Navy ship.

The BRP Sierra Madre is the country's warship that was deliberately run aground in Ayungin Shoal in 1995 to serve as an outpost of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Mao Ning called on the Philippines to tow away "rusting" Sierra Madre ship in their so-called Ren'ai Jiao (Ayungin Shoal) and "stop polluting" the waters around it "if it really cares about the environment."

The Philippine officials did not welcome such a statement from the Chinese government, claiming almost entire features of the South China Sea, without legal basis.

Following Mao Ning's remarks, the Office of Solicitor General said it is considering the filing of a lawsuit against China before an international court, for allegedly destroying coral reefs in at least two key features in the WPS—namely Rozul (Iroquois) reef and Escoda (Sabina) Shoal.

This came after the AFP's Western Command, based in Palawan, and the Philippine Coast Guard disclosed that coral reefs that were once abundant in the seabed of these shoals were "extensively destroyed." These areas were also subjected to the swarming of Chinese maritime militia and other Chinese fishing vessels.

Teodoro had said they are validating whether the report has been linked with the possible reclamation of artificial islands in the West Philippine Sea.

"Talk about the pot calling the kettle black! China continues to damage the WPS by its illegal reclamation activities in the SCS and it was found to be a violator of international law in the 2016 Arbitral Award when such activities damaged the marine environment," Teodoro lamented.

Teodoro described China's remarks as mere "propaganda" to divert international attention from their illegal activities in the WPS.

"Disingenuous propaganda lines such as this only serve to expose China's insincerity and will only heighten the mistrust by the Filipino people and the rest of the world of the Chinese Government," said Teodoro.

China has repeatedly tuned out the Philippines' sovereign rights over the WPS which was based on the 2016 arbitral ruling of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.