China's Ministry of Natural Resources issued a survey report on Friday, debunking "sea reclamation" allegations concerning the country's Tiexian Jiao and Niu'e Jiao in the South China Sea.
Titled "A Survey Report on the Coral Reef Ecosystems of Tiexian Jiao and Niu'e Jiao," the document was produced by the South China Sea Development Research Institute of the Ministry of Natural Resources together with other research institutions.
Affected by the outbreak of crown-of-thorns starfishes, the coral reef ecosystem of Tiexian Jiao has degraded severely, the report said, adding that from 2016 to 2024, the reef-building coral coverage area at the atoll reef platform where Tiexian Jiao is located decreased by about 68.9 percent.
The document noted that tropical cyclone strikes and frequent human activities, especially the Philippines' continuous and illegal construction on Zhongye Dao are also causes of the deterioration of the coral reef ecosystem of Tiexian Jiao.
"The survey finds that the coral reef ecosystem of Tiexian Jiao was seriously degraded, mainly due to the outbreak of crown-of-thorns starfish. In addition, the Philippines arranged hundreds of people to stay illegally on Zhongye Dao for a long time, and continuously carried out construction activities starting 2018. We also found a lot of abandoned objects on the spot, some with Philippine characters and some with signs of being produced in the Philippines. These activities and the discharge of sewage caused damages to the coral reef ecosystems of Tiexian Jiao and Zhongye Dao," said Xiong Xiaofei, principal investigator of the team for investigation of Tiexian Jiao and Niu'e Jiao from the South China Sea Ecological Center under the Chinese Ministry of Natural Resources.
According to the report, satellite remote sensing and on-site survey data showed that the three cays on Tiexian Jiao reef flat and the one cay on Niu'e Jiao reef flat are all above water at high tide, with apparent natural characteristics, regular changes of position and form, and sufficient materials fostering their growth and formation. "Therefore, the formation of the four cays is a normal physical geographic phenomenon," it said.
"These four sandbars have significant natural features, and their positions and shapes show regular changes. Their growth is a normal geographical phenomenon based on sufficient natural material sources. As for the Philippines' false remarks that 'China dumped coral debris at Tiexian Jiao' and rumors from relevant countries that 'the sandbars were formed by China's sea reclamation,' these remarks have no scientific or factual basis," said Huang Huamei, vice-president of the South China Sea Development Research Institute under the Chinese Ministry of Natural Resources.
According to the document, the coral reef ecosystem of Niu'e Jiao is in a healthy state, although seasonal, sporadic heat-induced coral bleaching and human activities still create some stressful influence.
Fishing vessels were found operating in waters around Tiexian Jiao and Niu'e Jiao, the report said, warning that such fishing activities and anthropogenic disposals would threaten the health of the coral reef ecosystems.
As the sea surface temperature continues to rise under the background of global climate change, the reefs in Nansha Qundao, including Tiexian Jiao and Niu'e Jiao, are exposed to the risk of large-scale coral bleaching, the report said.
Efforts will be made to further intensify the survey, research, evaluation and protection for Tiexian Jiao, Niu'e Jiao and their adjacent waters, according to the report.
Survey report debunks "sea reclamation" allegations against China
