China and Philippines sparring over coral damage claims is part of bigger strategic game: Analyst

A Chinese report earlier this week claimed that high levels of heavy metals and oils discharged from a grounded Philippine warship at the Second Thomas Shoal - a flashpoint between Manila and Beijing in the South China Sea - was harming coral reefs. Political scientist Evan Laksmana tells CNA’s Asia Now that the latest blame game over the contested waters' coral reefs is part of a bigger strategic game. It is “a drop in a big bucket of disputes”, the senior fellow for Southeast Asia Military Modernisation at the International Institute for Strategic Studies adds. Subscribe to our channel here: https://cna.asia/youtubesub Subscribe to our news service for must-read stories: Telegram - https://cna.asia/telegram WhatsApp - https://cna.asia/whatsapp Follow us: CNA: https://cna.asia CNA Lifestyle: http://www.cnalifestyle.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/channelnewsasia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/channelnewsasia Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/channelnewsasia TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@channelnewsasia