Protesters from a cause-oriented group trooped to the Chinese Consular Office in Makati City on Wednesday, March 19, to demand from the Chinese government environmental reparations worth P250 billion for its illegal activities in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
The group also urged China to withdraw all its vessels and personnel from the country's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
In a statement, Akbayan President Rafaela David said the group wants the national government to file a case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to compel China to pay for the environmental damages in the WPS and to compensate Filipino fisherfolk who have lost their livelihood due to China's intrusion in Philippine waters.
“China must face the consequences of its action. We already won a historic Permanent Court of Arbitration victory destroying their fantastical 9-dash line claim. Confident tayo na maipapanalo natin ang isang ICJ case para pagbayarin ang China sa kanilang pagsira sa ating marine ecosystem at sa paghaharass sa ating mga frontliners at mangigisda (We are confident that we will win the ICJ case calling on China to pay for the destruction of our marine ecosystem, as well as be liable for their harassment of our frontliners and fishermen)," David said.
She explained that in 2019, the University of the Philippines (UP) Marine Institute estimated the amount of destroyed marine life by China in the WPS at P33.1 billion.
"Kung isuma natin yang halaga mula 2019 hanggang ngayon, sa taon-taong nilang ilegal na gawain kagaya ng pagsira ng coral reefs, land reclamation, at destructive fishing, dagdag pa ang annual inflation, hindi bababa sa 250 billion ang danyos perwisyo ang dapat bayaran ng China (If we will add up the cost of damage since 2019 until now, together with their yearly illegal activities including the destruction of coral reefs, land reclamation, and destructive fishing, as well as the annual inflation, no less than P250 billion worth of damages must be paid by China to the Philippines)," the group's leader stressed.
Aside from the environmental damages, Akbayan also pointed out that the Philippines was deprived of its right to exploit the renewable energy potential of the West Philippine Sea due to China’s continued aggressive actions in the area.
“The West Philippine Sea not only holds huge reserves for gas and oil deposits but also Rare Earth Metals (REM) that are needed for renewable energy technology such as solar plants, wind farms, electric vehicles, and more. Hindi natin ma-access itong resources natin dahil sa pag-occupy ng China (We are not able to access these resources due to China's occupation)," David noted.