China's ongoing reclamation activities in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea have destroyed hundreds of acres of coral reef and have caused 'widespread and irreversible damage' to the ecological system in the region, threatening the livelihood of fishermen in states surrounding the sea.

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The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said on Monday that China's frenzied island building in the contested Spratly Islands has damaged the 'biodiversity and ecological balance' in the South China Sea, affecting many fishermen who have depended on the sea for their livelihood for decades.

DFA spokesman Charles Jose said in a news briefing this week that China has 'unilaterally' and brazenly pursued the reclamation activities disregarding the plight of the surrounding states that have made fishing their only source of living.

China's neighbors in the South China Sea stand to lose $100 million a year because of the damage to the coral reefs, which serve as breeding grounds for high grade fish that these countries harvest.

Satellite images released last year showed China conducting land reclamation activities on islets and submerged coral reefs in the Spratly Islands.

The United States and the Philippines have both said that the newly established islands could serve as military outposts in the area, part of which are being claimed by its neighbors including Vietnam and the Philippines.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman last week said that the purpose of the construction was to provide maritime help to China, its neighbors, and international vessels, in case the vessels become distressed in the South China Sea.

China said the islands will serve as a refuge for the distressed fishermen, a ''typhoon shelter, search and rescue center, fishing services and an administration office."

The United States has issued a protest against China's land reclamation activities saying that China's posturings in the contested islands in the South China Sea is decreasing the chances of holding diplomatic talks and settling territorial disputes among the claimant-countries.

Tagscoral reefs, reclamation projects