Beijing says Philippines is polluting South China Sea by burning waste

China has accused the Philippines of polluting the environment after it released footage it said showed troops burning rubbish at a disputed reef in the South China Sea.

The video, published on social media by state broadcaster CGTN on Saturday, showed smoke pouring from the BRP Sierra Madre, an old warship that was deliberately grounded on Second Thomas Shoal in 1999.

CGTN said marines stationed on the ship had been burning refuse and were posing “a serious threat to the ecological environment of the surrounding waters”.

It also referred to a report by China’s Ministry of Natural Resources from last year that said the “prolonged illegal grounding of the warship had severely damaged the diversity, stability and sustainability of the coral reef ecosystem”.

The Philippines has not yet responded to the claims.

The reef, known in China as Renai Reef and Ayungin Shoal in the Philippines, lies about 200km (120 miles) from the Philippine island of Palawan and has been one of the main flashpoints between the two countries.