Philippines and China engage in heated debate over the South China Sea at the United Nations.

The Philippines argues that China's expansionist policies in the South China Sea should be viewed as a global issue.

According to GMA News, the statement was made by the Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations, Lourdes Yparraguirre, on June 13 during the annual meeting of countries that are signatories to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), of which both the Philippines and China are signatories.

China disregards UNCLOS and international institutions.

"China's actions in the South China Sea threaten compliance with UNCLOS and the commitments of the parties involved in the ocean," Yparaguirre emphasized.

The Philippines' Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Lourdes Yparraguirre, denounced China's wrongdoing in the South China Sea (AP photo).

Ms. Yparaguirre also accused China of beginning to intensify its encroachment in the South China Sea since 2012 when it failed to comply with the joint agreement between the Philippines and China requiring the withdrawal of all naval forces present at Scarborough Shoal, located 124 nautical miles west of Luzon Island in the Philippines and 800 nautical miles southeast of the nearest Chinese coast.

Since then, according to Ms. Yparaguirre: "China has occupied the shoal and built barriers to prevent Filipino fishermen from fishing in their traditional fishing grounds."

Ms. Yparaguirre also accused China's recent actions of violating the sovereignty and sovereign rights of the Philippines in its exclusive economic zone.

Furthermore, according to Ms. Yparaguirre, China not only violated UNLCOS, but also:

- ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea

Convention on Biological Diversity

- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Animals and Plants (CITES)

Ms. Yparaguirre emphasized that China's violations are all related to its extensive and illegal reclamation of reefs in the Spratly Islands.

"At Fiery Cross Reef alone, China has expanded the reef to eleven times its original size," said Yparaguirre.

Causing immeasurable damage to the environment.

Ms. Yparaguirre stated: "China has dredged and completely destroyed the coral reef ecosystems at these reefs, which took centuries to develop, threatening the biodiversity there."

China's island reclamation activities are having a serious impact on the environment and ecosystems in the South China Sea (AFP photo).

Ms. Yparaguirre also cited figures from oceanographers, according to which China has reclaimed reefs in the South China Sea and expanded them to approximately 800 hectares, resulting in economic losses of up to $281 million per year.

However, Ms. Yparaguirre stressed that the environmental damage is "immeasurable": "China must not impose its territorial and maritime sovereignty through intimidation, coercion, or the use of force, or through unilateral and extensive island reclamation activities in the South China Sea."

"China must also not arbitrarily alter the status quo in the South China Sea to serve its nine-dash line claim, which it brazenly asserts as its 'indisputable sovereignty' in the South China Sea," Yparaguirre affirmed.

Ms. Yparaguirre also argued that China's island reclamation activities were aimed at "creating a fait accompli" before the International Arbitration Court issues its final ruling on the Philippines' lawsuit demanding that China clarify the legality of its nine-dash line claim.

“If the parties involved in the South China Sea dispute have mutual doubts about the delimitation of their respective maritime boundaries, and if bilateral consultation and negotiation mechanisms prove ineffective or only benefit one side, then the ultimate solution will be to submit these disputes to the UNLOCS mechanism and the UN Charter for resolution. Submitting the case to the International Arbitration Tribunal is a way to resolve the issue peacefully while adhering to international law,” said Ms. Yparaguirre.

China continues to make excuses.

In response to Ms. Yparaguirre's remarks, Mr. Wang Ming, Deputy Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, affirmed that all of China's actions on the reefs and islands are "entirely within areas under China's sovereignty."

Mr. Wang also argued that the country's [illegal] reclamation activities did not harm the ecosystem and marine environment in the area.

Wang Ming continues to defend China's illegal actions in the South China Sea (Photo: Reuters)

"These are all actions consistent with international law. The purpose is to better fulfill China's international responsibilities regarding search and rescue, disaster prevention, and to allow China to provide services to its own ships and those of other countries transiting the South China Sea," Wang said.

Mr. Wang affirmed that China's determination to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity is "as firm as a rock," and that no matter what the Philippines declares, it will not be able to achieve its goals.

According to VOV.VN