Chinese poachers are using the propellers of their boats to destroy coral reefs at the disputed islands Spratlys and Pag-asa, marine biologist John McManus said, but no comment has been made by the foreign affairs department. McManus said satellite images prove that since last year, the Chinese poachers have been killing the corals in the part of the West Philippine Sea where the Chinese built artificial islands. The biologist said coral bleaching and reef scarring was caused by systematic crushing through repeated scratching or scraping by Chinese poachers to harvest giant clams.

Fabunan, S. S. (2016, September 24). Sino poachers kill coral reefs. Manila Standard, p. A2.