Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. hit back at China on Saturday over its claim that the grounded Philippine Navy ship at Ayungin Shoal could bring ”irrevocable harm” to the marine environment.

”The statement of China that the grounded Sierra Madre is causing irrevocable harm is to put it as politely as possible—hypocritical. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!” Teodoro said in a statement.

”China continues to damage the WPS (West Philippine Sea) by its illegal reclamation activities in the SCS (South China Sea), and it was found to be a violator of international law in the 2016 Arbitral Award when such activities damaged the marine environment,” he added. 

On Thursday, China renewed its call for the Philippines to remove the ”rusting” BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal as it denied responsibility for the damage to corals in the West Philippine Sea.

“If the Philippines truly cares about the ecological environment of the South China Sea,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said, it should stop the vessel “from discharging polluted water into the ocean and not let the rusting warship bring irrevocable harm to the ocean.”

”Disingenuous propaganda lines such as this only serve to expose China’s insincerity and will only heighten the mistrust by the Filipino people and the rest of the world of the Chinese government,” Teodoro said.

In July 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, based on a case filed by the Philippines, junked China’s nine-dash line claim covering almost the entire South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea. 

China has refused to acknowledge the ruling, which the Philippines continues to assert before the international community.  — VBL, GMA Integrated News