Carpio: PH should stop China from building new islands in Sabina Shoal, Pag asa Cay

At this early stage, the Philippines should stop the supposed reclamation being undertaken by China of the Sabina Shoal and Pag-asa Cay.

In a report by Joseph Morong on 24 Oras Weekend, retired Supreme Court associate justice Antonio Carpio, China is preparing the foundation to build an artificial island on Sabina Shoal. The shoal, a sandbank or sandbar just below the surface of the water, is 75 nautical miles or 140 kilometers from Palawan and within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 200 nautical miles (370.4 kilometers).

On Saturday, the Philippine Coast Guard reported spotting what appeared to be Chinese researchers on Sabina Shoal.

“I think they are in the process of making markings because they destroyed the coral reefs, maybe that’s the first phase,” Carpio said to GMA Integrated News.

Carpio said the Philippines should bring the matter of the Chinese destroying the coral to the tribunal of the United Nations on the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS).

On a recent patrol, the PCG has discovered plies of dead coral on Sabina Shoal which it said is a sign of a possible attempt to create an artificial island.

“The fact that they destroyed it, that’s already prejudicial to us because , that’s our EEZ and the coral reefs are important for the ecosystem for fish to thrive,” Carpio said.

Also of concern is the distance of Sabina Shoal to Reed or Recto Bank which is believed to be rich in oil deposits and is also within the Philippines’ EEZ.

Carpio warned,”If we allow (China) to build on Sabina Shoal then they will harass us in Reed Bank because they have a base (nearby).”

In 1985, China constructed what it claimed to be shelters for fishermen within Mischief / Panganiban Reef inside the Philippines’ EEZ.

These have since been developed into a base where its ships harass Filipino vessels.

When GMA Integrated News asked the Chinese Embassy in Mania whether the researchers in Sabina Shoal were theirs, it responded, “that’s what the PCG thinks”.

The Embassy added China has unquestionable sovereignty of the islands and waters in the South China Sea that include the Nansha or Spratlys Islands that include Sabina Shoal.

According to the 2016 Arbitral Award from The Hague, Sabina Shoal belongs to the Philippines. The same ruling also disregarded China’s so-called “”Nine-Dash Line” which it is using as the basis to claim the majority of the South China Sea.

Carpio added that China is also starting to reclaim Pag-asa Cay which is near Pag-asa Island based on dead coral being dumped in the area.

In 2017, the Philippines planned to set up a fisherman’s shelter the cay but was opposed by China.

“What happened was China moved in and surrounded it with their maritime militia, they did not build but) we could not go there because they’re surrounding it 24/7… we should oppose it at the very start,” Carpio said.

GMA Integrated News has reached out to the PCG, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of National Defense for comments.—RF, GMA Integrated News