International Opposition Grows Against China’s Plan for Scarborough Shoal Nature Reserve

Several countries and international entities have raised objections to China’s recent announcement to create a nature reserve at Scarborough Shoal, a disputed maritime area in the South China Sea. Canada, Australia, Japan, Denmark, and the European Union condemned the move, stating it undermines established international law and threatens the stability in the region.

In statements released over the weekend, officials from these countries voiced "deep concern" about Beijing’s plan, which contradicts the 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling and restricts Filipino fishermen’s access to their traditional fishing waters.

The Canadian Embassy in the Philippines emphasized the importance of marine conservation but rejected any effort to use environmental protection as a pretext to assert control over Scarborough Shoal. The embassy affirmed, "Canada recognizes the rights of states in the region, including the Philippines, to exercise sovereign rights and jurisdiction within their exclusive economic zones in accordance with international law."

Echoing similar sentiments, Australian Ambassador Marc Innes-Brown highlighted the "potential implications" of China’s proposal and called on all parties to respect the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) alongside the 2016 ruling, which affirms the fishing rights of Filipinos at Scarborough Shoal.

Denmark’s Ambassador to the Philippines, Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin, described the initiative as a "so-called national nature reserve" and urged adherence to the unanimous 2016 tribunal verdict that protects Filipino fishermen’s traditional rights at Scarborough Reef.

Japan’s Ambassador Endo Kazuya expressed "serious concern," warning that Beijing’s move may destabilize the South China Sea region. He reiterated that the 2016 arbitral award is "final and legally binding" and stressed the need for all parties to comply.

The European Union delegation in Manila also affirmed support for the Philippines’ sovereign and maritime entitlements under international law, emphasizing that disputes should be resolved peacefully and warning against unilateral actions that alter the status quo in contested waters.

Scarborough Shoal has been a vital fishing ground for hundreds of small-scale fishermen from Zambales, Pangasinan, and Bataan, particularly as other nearby fishing areas have grown depleted. However, since China seized control of the shoal in 2012 following a prolonged standoff with the Philippine Navy, Filipino access to these resource-rich waters has been significantly restricted.

Reports from Filipino fishermen include instances of being driven away with water cannons, blocked from entering parts of the lagoon, or coerced into surrendering portions of their catch to Chinese Coast Guard personnel.

China’s State Council recently approved the establishment of the 3,523-hectare "Huangyan Island National Nature Reserve," reportedly aimed at protecting coral reef ecosystems. Nonetheless, Chinese state directives also include increased enforcement against "illegal and irregular activities," a clause that critics fear will be used to further exclude Filipino fishermen and strengthen Beijing’s hold on the shoal.

This move has drawn criticism from other quarters, including from the United States, where Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the plan as "yet another coercive attempt" by China to enforce expansive claims in the South China Sea "at the expense of its neighbors."