(MENAFN- Asia Times) (From The National Interest)
Of all the 'strategic' challenges confronting the Asia-Pacific region, none is as underrated as the destruction of the marine ecosystem.
The South China Sea's status as a critical waterway draws attention away from the fact that littoral Southeast Asia is one of the world's most diverse global marine bio-systems, hosting 76% of the world's coral species and 37% of reef-fish species.
Over the past two decades, there have been documented instances of Chinese fishermen in the Spratly Islands and surrounding waters indulging in large-scale illegal capture of fish using cyanide, dynamite, and detonating cords.
The wide range of sea life targeted has included endangered sea turtles, giant clams, giant oysters, sharks, eels, and large pieces of highly ornamental coral.
In the wake of a UN tribunal's quashing of Beijing's claim to historic rights in the South China Sea, what has been largely overlooked is the court's censure of Beijing's rampant destruction of marine life around the sites of its reclamation and other activities in the Spratly Islands. Read More
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.