China is playing the environmental card in justifying the removal of the grounded Philippine warship.
Chinese scholar Wu Shicun, an expert on South China Sea issues, speaking at a press conference in Beijing on July 11.But Philippine officials and academics have rebuffed the suggestion, vowing to take all steps necessary to ensure that the WWII-era BRP Sierra Madre can continue to be reinforced, even as such attempts have been increasingly challenged by China.
“The future disintegration of the ship may lead to an environmental disaster,” said Dr Wu, who is chairman of the Huayang Centre for Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance think-tank. He is also a regular speaker on South China Sea issues at international conferences. “For China to let go of the Ren’ai Jiao and no longer care about it, it will only embolden the Philippines. So this scenario is absolutely impossible,” he said, speaking at an event to launch a report reiterating Chinese objections to a 2016 arbitration award on the South China Sea that ruled in favour of the Philippines against China.
“We will not be deterred in continuing to rotate our troops and to provide them with appropriate supplies,” he said. “If China will allow us to repair the ship, if China will stop harassing our resupply missions so we can repair the BRP Sierra Madre, then there will be no pollution at all,” said Mr Carpio.
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