Philippines moves to sue China over destructive activities in West Philippine Sea

This comes after reports from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command about the damaging activities being undertaken by the Chinese on their territory. The activities affect the marine environment and coral reef in the seabed of Rozul (Iroquois) Reef, an area that is part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

The Environmental suit will be filed before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague, Netherlands, and is expected to be completed in a few weeks.

The suit is evidence-based with facts gathered over the years by the Philippines, Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic Clavano IV of the Department of Justice confirmed.

"We need to strengthen all the pieces of evidence that need to be attached," Clavano said during a public briefing Thursday. "But we are confident that in a few weeks, we will complete our complaint and the attached evidence," she was quoted by the Manilla Times as saying.

33 Chinese maritime vessels were monitored to be "swarming" in the same area from August 9 to September 11, 2023.