Former Philippine Officials Accuse China’s Xi Jinping of Crimes Against Humanity
by John Hayward
Former Philippine officials Albert del Rosario and Conchita Carpio Morales announced on Thursday they have filed a human rights complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Chinese President Xi Jinping over his government’s actions in the South China Sea.
The timing of their filing is significant because President Rodrigo Duterte withdrew the Philippines from the International Criminal Court on Sunday. Duterte made the decision to withdraw a year ago after the ICC launched an investigation of his war on drugs, a policy he fiercely defends despite its high body count and allegations of corruption and unnecessary violence. Duterte vowed the ICC “can never acquire jurisdiction over my person, not in a million years.”
Del Rosario and Morales filed their complaint against Xi and his top officials just days before the Philippines formally withdrew from the international court. They accused the Chinese of causing severe environmental damage by artificially enhancing disputed islands and reefs in the South China Sea and committing crimes against humanity by blocking Filipino fishermen from working their traditional fishing grounds. Some of the affected fishermen co-sponsored the ICC filing.
In addition to President Xi Jinping, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and China’s ambassador to the Philippines, Zhao Jinhua, were named as “perpetrators” of crimes against humanity in the ICC filing.
Del Rosario, who was formerly foreign minister of the Philippines, sent a copy of the filing to Rappler on Thursday to outline the precise nature of the charges:
Del Rosario, Morales, and the fishermen told the ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor that Xi and other Chinese officials have committed crimes “which involve massive, near-permanent, and devastating environmental damage across nations.”
They said the environmental damage occurred as Xi and other officials implement “China’s systemic plan to take over the South China Sea.” The Philippines owns rights over part of these waters, called the West Philippine Sea by Manila.
“These violations of China, through President Xi Jinping and other officials, have caused serious injury to (a) an identifiable group of Filipino nationals who depend on fishing for their livelihood; and (b) to present and future generations of inhabitants of the coastal countries in the South China Sea, including Filipino nationals, by accelerating a fisheries collapse and, consequently, a food shortage across several nations,” said Del Rosario, Morales, and the fishermen in their complaint.