Beijing has published ecological assessments of nine disputed features to underpin its new national nature reserve, deepening the row with Washington. Philippine defence chief Teodoro dismisses the move as a diversion, while China's embassy calls his claims about Chinese workers baseless.
China claims most of the South China Sea, overlapping with claims by the Philippines and other neighbours. Beijing's declaration of a national nature reserve over contested features has put it at odds with Manila and Washington, which see the conservation label as cover for consolidating control.
China has issued ecological assessment reports on nine disputed South China Sea features amid an escalating row with Washington over Beijing's establishment of a national nature reserve, the South China Morning Post reports. The Philippine defence chief rejected Chinese criticism and called the response a 'squid tactic', while China's embassy dismissed claims by Teodoro about Chinese workers as baseless.