China has a big stick, now with its sparkly new aircraft carrier and its own blue ocean strategy it feels it can simply grab the Spratly Islands for its own without negotiations with other deserving countries that claim them. While the world is focused on the political ramifications of China’s newest annexation very little is being reported on the environmental damage that the Chinese have caused so far with their super massive reclamation work.
On the 19th of June the Chinese News Media NDTV reported that the Chinese government had destroyed no reefs, more over they are using some new dredging technology that protects coral reefs. It seems “impact on coral reefs is localised, temporary, controllable and restorable,”–so much for not destroying coral reefs, first saying everything is protected and then going on to say…well…the damage is not permanent!
The report was a rebuttal to claims from the Philippine government that the Chinese government has destroyed more than 300 acres of pristine coral reefs. China of course will not allow any independent audit on this matter, and really as if the the Chinese gives a hoot what the international community thinks. China is also very bullish in claiming they have no prison labour camps making cheap goods, have wonderful clear skies all over their country and are bastions for the protection of intellectual property rights. As far as the Chinese Communist government is concerned they are very honest and their word is as good as gold. All I can think of is bye-bye beautiful reefs of the Spratlys, once untouched, now untouchable. Its such a pity, with more than 50 % of coral reefs gone from their natural coverage on our beautiful planet I don’t think we can afford to lose even 1 % with the pressure of rising sea temperatures and pollution threatening all coral reefs. The reefs around uninhabited islands are now even more precious to our planet than ever, much more than the national interest of a particular nation can dictate.
The Spratlys are known for their pristine beauty
The Communist Chinese have always been belligerent in their claims and they take what they want as they wish. Like how they simply walked in to the Sovereign Nation of Tibet. If not for India’s military they would have gone ahead and swallowed much of North Eastern India, Nepal and Bhutan. It’s just China’s way of doing things. In most cases (like Tibet and the Spratlys) I think they know that their claim is thin, so the only way they can justify their right is to act like a bully. A bully doesn’t think very much and is far from being considerate, also you can throw away diplomacy from their vocabulary. Nobody likes a bully (except perhaps a fellow bully), so goes China’s national image.
Too bad I am not the Premier of China or his advisor. If I was calling the shots over there I would tell him, no need to spend billions on unpopular land reclamations. Simply create Nansha National Park, say we are protecting the coral reefs from damage and exploitation and open some parts of it to dive tours. Create off-shore tourist friendly naval installations and claim the area as one of China’s National Treasures and a World Heritage Site. Send naval vessels to protect the area and even Greenpeace will applaud you. Unfortunately the Communists are just too full of themselves and too thick headed to think creatively or diplomatically. What a waste of a Great Nation.
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