China sets up South-China Sea Environment Protection Fund

China has set up a 15 million yuan (which is more than two million dollar) Environmental Protection Fund for the South China Sea, having spent double that in the past four years.

According to China’s environmental protection official, Shi Guoning, the funds will be used to support scientific research and development of new methods and equipment in environmental protection.

The funds, which will be used over the next three years, would initially be spent on exploring the world’s deepest underwater sinkhole in the Paracel Islands.

The Chinese government has also released fish and sea turtles into the sea six times and cracked down on illegal hunting of sea birds.

China claims more than 90 per cent of the South China Sea, an area which accounts for more than a tenth of global fisheries production and is also claimed in part by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

Meanwhile, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague had earlier ruled that China did not have historic rights to the South China Sea and also condemned environmental destruction in the waters.

China rejected the ruling and refused to participate in the case.

The tribunal found that China’s large-scale land reclamation and construction of artificial islands has caused severe harm to coral and violated its obligation to preserve fragile marine environments.

China has repeatedly denied damaging the environment in the South China Sea.

Over the past four years, China has spent more than 30 million yuan to protect reefs and islets.