A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines on Saturday called relevant parties to respect the facts and not be misled by untruthful media tactics over "ecological destruction" in South China Sea. The comments came after a U.S. think tank accused China of having destroyed at least 21,000 acres of coral reefs in the South China Sea since 2012 through island construction and fishing of giant clams. "This think tank concocted the false report by citing a few satellite images and stirring up falsified allegations from years ago, and such a report is neither factual nor verifiable," the spokesperson said. China has always attached great importance to the protection of ecological environment of the Nansha Islands and Reefs and their adjacent waters, he added. |
Watch: 'State of the nation is fragile', Christopher Luxon saysCancer experts urge Pharmac to fastFa'anānā Efeso Collins: 'The giants whose shoulders I stand on'Coronavirus China: Wuhan lab staff 'had virus symptoms before first confirmed cases'Revealed: The 25 safest airlines for 2024Plane passengers rate their airline breakfastsScott Morrison and Joe Biden to join summit with key AsiaChanges to Gloriavale response could risk gainsOn Your Side: Who needs a will, and how do you create one?Imran Khan: Pakistan ex