China's declaration of a nature reserve in the South China Sea represents a significant development in its ongoing efforts to assert dominance over this geopolitically crucial region. The National Forestry and Grassland Administration announced the establishment of a reserve designed to protect the coral reef ecosystem at Huangyan Island, internationally known as Scarborough Shoal. However, many experts contend that this move is less about environmental conservation and more closely tied to geopolitical strategies.
Scarborough Shoal, a triangular chain of reef and rock featuring a fish-rich lagoon, is a fiercely contested area also claimed by the Philippines and Taiwan. Since a confrontational incident with the Philippines in 2012, China has effectively maintained control over the shoal, although Philippine vessels continue to assert their claims by attempting to approach the area. Tensions have escalated in recent years, with incidents such as a collision between two Chinese ships while attempting to obstruct a Philippine ship near the shoal occurring in August.
Prior to the nature reserve announcement, China had already designated the waters surrounding the shoal as its territory and released geographic coordinates that outline its baselines. Greg Poling, a South China Sea expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, remarked that the nature reserve announcement is part of a pattern of China seeking to establish administrative justifications for actions previously taken by military force.
Environmental science scholars have indicated that extensive damage to Scarborough Shoal has been inflicted by Chinese harvesting practices, particularly the collection of giant clams, a practice that was banned last year. To meet increasing demand for clam shells, which have become valuable as substitutes for the increasingly banned elephant ivory, Chinese vessels engaged in practices that harmed the reefs, including dragging their propellers through the reefs and using high-pressure water to extract clams.
Ray Powell, director of SeaLight, a group focused on monitoring maritime activities, criticized China's nature reserve move as an attempt to reinforce territorial claims while diverting attention from the destruction caused by its own actions. This sentiment is echoed by Bec Strating, an international relations professor, who described the situation as involving the "weaponization of environmental concerns." China's state broadcaster reported that the reserve's establishment not only signifies ecological protection but also demonstrates a shift in China's approach from reacting to provocations to asserting long-term maritime governance in the South China Sea.
Marine scientists have been advocating for the preservation of natural resources, but they believe that policymakers are politicizing conservation issues. Poling noted that while a small section of the reef could potentially be re-planted with coral, the overall situation at Scarborough Shoal is dire, as much of the ecosystem has already been severely damaged.
Experts do not foresee large-scale island construction at Scarborough Shoal, as was previously observed in the Spratly Islands. According to Powell, it would be contradictory for China to establish a nature reserve and simultaneously construct significant military infrastructure, such as a 3,000-meter concrete runway. Historical instances, like the creation of structures on Mischief Reef, draw comparisons but experts argue that Scarborough Shoal's geographical proximity to China makes large-scale construction unnecessary.
In conclusion, China's declaration of a nature reserve in the South China Sea embodies a complicated interplay of environmental rhetoric and territorial ambition, reflecting broader strategic objectives rather than a genuine commitment to marine conservation.
