MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippines protested on Thursday against a plan by China to establish a nature reserve at the Scarborough Shoal, one of the most contentious areas in the South China Sea, and demanded that Beijing retract the initiative immediately. The protest follows China’s State Council announcement on Wednesday regarding the approval of this national nature reserve, with further details about its size and scope expected to be disclosed by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration in the future.
The Scarborough Shoal is a significant territorial point of contention among China and its neighboring countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. In response to the proposed reserve, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs stated that diplomatic efforts are underway to challenge what they describe as China's “illegitimate and unlawful action." The department emphasized that China’s initiative infringes upon the rights and interests of the Philippines as defined by international law.
In its protest, the Philippine government urged China to respect its sovereignty over Bajo de Masinloc, which is the local name for Scarborough Shoal, and called for the immediate withdrawal of the State Council’s announcement. The Philippines has firmly indicated that any form of construction by China at Scarborough would cross a critical boundary, leading to heightened tensions.
China's State Council characterized the establishment of the Huangyan Island National Nature Reserve as a crucial step for ensuring the diversity, stability, and sustainability of the ecosystem at Huangyan Island, the Chinese name for Scarborough Shoal. Philippine Ambassador to Washington, Jose Romualdez, criticized this rationale, arguing that it serves as a pretext for China to reinforce its expansive "10-dash line" claims in the South China Sea, a dispute involving strategic maritime interests.
In recent years, the Scarborough Shoal has been the site of numerous confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels, as both nations strive to assert their claims over the area. Recently, a collision occurred between a Chinese navy ship and a Chinese coast guard vessel, which was attempting to block a Philippine coast guard ship in the vicinity of Scarborough Shoal.
While the United States does not lay any claims in these disputed waters, it has repeatedly reiterated its obligation to defend the Philippines, a long-standing treaty ally. This includes the commitment to respond if Filipino forces, ships, or aircraft face armed attacks within the South China Sea. The rising tension over the Scarborough Shoal continues to highlight the complexities of territorial disputes in the region and the implications for international relations in Southeast Asia.
