Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 25)— Dozens of foreign vessels have moved out of Philippine waters since July, according to a US-based geospatial imagery firm.
In its latest data made public this week, Simularity said it monitored fewer ships in parts of the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) since releasing the July 12 report on the alleged waste dumping in the Spratly Islands.
“There are 71 fewer ships in Union Banks, 35 fewer ships in Thitu Reefs, and 88 fewer ships in the Philippine EEZ overall since our report,” Simularity said in a report dated Aug. 23.
It added the ships “are no longer anchored together in large numbers,” therefore reducing the amount of waste dumped in the area.
Simularity’s previous report argued that Chinese vessels have been causing long-term marine life damage by dumping waste and sewage in the Spratly reefs.
It also warned that the reef damage directly affects the fish stocks of the entire South China Sea, where the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam have claims, but much of which area is contested by China.
Both Philippine and Chinese officials raised doubts over the accuracy of Simularity’s report— particularly on the use of an image they claimed was an old one.
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