THE Chinese Embassy in Manila has reacted sharply to concerns by the Japanese ambassador over the reported harvesting of coral in the West Philippine Sea.

Japan’s Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko on Sunday described as “very alarming news” the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command (Wescom) report suspecting China of harvesting coral in Rozul Reef in the West Philippine Sea.

“Our oceans are the lifeblood of our planet, and coral reefs are its colorful heartbeats. Let’s preserve and protect these vital ecosystems for generations to come,” Koshikawa wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday.

Replying to Koshikawa’s post, the Chinese Embassy wrote, “People should be alarmed by the spreading of such disinformation.”

“Oceans are indeed the lifeblood of our planet. So stop the release of contaminated nuclear water from Fukushima,”