Before China dropped waste in West Philippine Sea, reclamation already exacted its toll: scientists

In this March 7, 2021, handout photo provided by the Philippine Coast Guard/National Task Force-West Philippine Sea, some of the 220 Chinese vessels are seen moored at Whitsun Reef, South China Sea. - AP

MANILA (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN): The use by hundreds of Chinese vessels of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) as a massive toilet for human excreta and other raw wastes was just one of the destructive impacts of China’s territorial grab in the area.

Years before satellite images showed what analysts said was human poop being disgorged by China vessels that are stationary in West Philippine Sea, scientists had already calculated the ecological and economic damage being attributed to the Chinese intrusion and the numbers are mind boggling.