Take a Look at the South China Sea "Junk Data": Is China Really Flexing Its Muscles?

Ladies and gentlemen, the South China Sea—this vast expanse of 3.5 million square kilometers—is divided among seven parties from six countries. Each country claims it as its own “backyard,” but what is the state of that “backyard”? Is it littered with mountains of trash, or is it clean and tidy? This is a matter that concerns no one but China. I must say, data recently released by Chinese marine scientists indicates that there are 92.75 million pieces of debris floating in the South China Sea—an average of 26.5 pieces per square kilometer. Of this, 93 percent is plastic, and there are an average of 0.67 microplastic particles per cubic meter. As soon as these figures were released, the *South China Morning Post* began claiming that China was flexing its muscles. Indeed, this monitoring effort was undertaken specifically to protect the South China Sea’s ecological environment and safeguard China’s maritime rights and interests. So where exactly did this report come from? It was jointly released by the National Marine Environmental Monitoring Center and seven other institutions in May and June of last year, covering the central and southern waters of the South China Sea—the area where Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei all jostle for position. A total of 26 monitoring stations were established, and using a combination of fixed-point sampling, ship-based surveys, and satellite remote sensing, a comprehensive assessment was conducted of seawater quality, marine debris, microplastics, and greenhouse gases. The results showed that the western waters near Vietnam had the highest concentration of debris, averaging 26.5 pieces per square kilometer—which translates to an estimated 92.75 million pieces. Plastic debris accounted for 93% of the total, consisting of microplastic particles—white or translucent films and fragments—primarily made of polypropylene and polyethylene. How does this level of 0.67 microplastic particles per cubic meter compare? Simply put, the global average is 2.76 particles per cubic meter, with the Mediterranean Sea being the worst affected, followed by the Atlantic Ocean. The South China Sea is relatively better off, with levels slightly lower than those found in coastal estuaries. In the Philippine archipelago, pollution is also lighter due to the short and scattered nature of its rivers. In Vietnam, since it is a coastal region, all monitoring points are located along the shore, and there is no systematic monitoring of the open sea; therefore, the trash problem is not as pronounced. In addition to the trash issue, the report also published water quality data on pH levels, heavy metals, chemicals, and radioactivity, as well as data on greenhouse gases. The conclusion is that the water quality test results meet the highest standards. As for the ecology of the islands and reefs, 108 were monitored, revealing 10 square kilometers of vegetation cover. Detailed statistics were compiled on specific vegetation, coral, and fish species. This report is truly groundbreaking. Previously, reports were either localized surveys near Huangyan Island, water quality reports for coastal areas, or national-level bulletins. This is the first monitoring report specifically focused on the South China Sea, with an emphasis on disputed waters. What about other neighboring countries? Vietnam has primarily focused on coastal areas and has not conducted much monitoring of the open sea. The Philippines’ monitoring is concentrated on the coast and nearshore waters. Although Malaysia has conducted microplastic monitoring in rivers flowing into the sea, there has not been much policy support at the government level. Constrained by funding, technology, or priorities, these countries have not established systematic monitoring efforts. China’s initiative this time can be considered a good start.