China Destroys South China Sea Coral Reefs. Scarborough Shoal Is Next. Duterte And The Philippines Must Act

     The coral reefs in the South China Sea were of far greater value when left alone than what China has turned many of them into.  These coral reefs, rocky outcrops, shoals, atolls, and coral reef islands, were home to abundant marine life. China, and all the nations that share the South China Sea, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and others, need fish. Not one single human being can eat what destroyed coral reefs produce, which is absolutely nothing.

       When China dredges the seafloors, and pours the sand produced from seafloors onto coral reefs, the seafloors are destroyed as are the coral reefs. The military bases, airstrips, radar stations, and other structures China builds on these artificially created islands will never produce what the ruined coral reefs produced; fish and other marine life. 

         China claims the Scarborough Shoal, which an international tribunal ruled belongs to the Philippines, not China. If China dredges the Scarborough Shoal and pours sand onto the coral reefs, the Scarborough Shoals as an important marine resource and food source for the Philippine people and others will be lost forever. 

           It is irrelevant if the president of the Philippines loves China or hates China, or if he loves or hates the United States. He must protect the Scarborough Shoal. This should start with the clear message to China that any development of the Scarborough Shoal will result in the complete end of business relations with the Philippines. China has many interests in the Philippines- mining, minerals, and much more. Destroying the Scarborough Shoal must not be allowed.

          The people of China, and all the nations that share the South China Sea, need the sea to be healthy. People eat fish. They do not eat buildings, military installations, radar stations, airstrips, basketball courts, or any of the structures people put on once healthy reefs.