A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines on Saturday called relevant parties to respect the facts and not be misled by untruthful media tactics over "ecological destruction" in South China Sea.
The comments came after a U.S. think tank accused China of having destroyed at least 21,000 acres of coral reefs in the South China Sea since 2012 through island construction and fishing of giant clams.
"This think tank concocted the false report by citing a few satellite images and stirring up falsified allegations from years ago, and such a report is neither factual nor verifiable," the spokesperson said.
China has always attached great importance to the protection of ecological environment of the Nansha Islands and Reefs and their adjacent waters, he added.
Rihanna is a no show at 2024 Met Gala despite teasing an outfit to fans
Famed photographer Annie Leibovitz's STUNNING California estate hits the market for $9 MILLION
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson gets emotional during 'life
Katerina Mrazova scores shootout winner and Ottawa beats Boston 3
Inside the Met Gala: A fairytale forest, woodland creatures, and some starstruck first
Michael Harris II hits an RBI double in the 10th inning to lift Braves past Marlins 4
Lightning and Islanders searching for answers to rebound from 2
Chinese satellite detects over 100 solar white
Princess Charlotte's adorable talent that makes her mother Kate Middleton 'very happy'
Future of MLB's Tampa Bay Rays to come into focus with key meetings on $1.3B stadium project
Lightning and Islanders searching for answers to rebound from 2