Satellite imagery shows that between 2012 to 2016, more than 500 hectares of the Scarborough Shoal had been destroyed by Chinese activities in the West Philippine Sea, a state university professor said in a forum organized by the Stratbase ADR Institute. “Massive coral destruction in the West Philippine Sea has been ongoing for quite some time,” University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea Director Dr. Jay Batongbacal said.

'Chinese activities destroyed 500 hectares of WPS corals'. (2023, October 1). Manila Standard, p. A1.