South China Sea: An expert has warned the waters are “on the verge of collapse” (Image: GETTY)
Greg Poling, of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, explained the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia rely on fishing and fishing-related industries. He said the decreasing fish stocks would “accelerate the disputes”, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) reported. His warning comes after Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte accused China of fishing within their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Mr Poling told PBS: “Amid this decades-long theory of maritime disputes between China and its neighbours those fish stocks, for now, are on the verge of collapse.
“Hundreds of thousands of people that rely on fishing or fishing related industries and millions of more that rely on the fish and other marine life for food security.
“So it doesn't matter nearly as much in China as it does in the Philippines or Vietnam or Indonesia. And it's also going to accelerate the disputes.
