The CCP is stepping up sea aggression. Seven Philippine reefs have been landfilled into Chinese island-garrisons. From there gunboat-backed Chinese poachers overfish Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal and mineral-rich Recto (Reed) Bank. All are within the West Philippine Sea, the part of the SCS that forms our 200-mile exclusive economic zone. They are 800 miles distant from China. The Permanent Court of Arbitration has outlawed China’s actions. Manila thus can seek indemnity. By global measures, China has stolen and ruined P9.725 trillion ($194.5 billion) in Philippine marine wealth to date.

Bondoc, J. (2021, February 17). China has taken P9.7 trillion in reefs, fish - and counting. The Philippine Star, p. 9.