Philippines Condemns China’s Proposed Nature Reserve on Disputed Scarborough Shoal

The Philippine government issued a strong diplomatic protest on Thursday against China’s plan to designate a "national nature reserve" on Scarborough Shoal, a strategically significant and disputed maritime area in the South China Sea. Manila views the move as a thinly veiled attempt by Beijing to reinforce its control over the territory.

China unveiled the proposal a day earlier, intending to safeguard the "diversity, stability, and sustainability" of the natural ecosystem around Huangyan Island—the name China uses for Scarborough Shoal. State-run Chinese media reported the reserve would cover approximately 3,523.67 hectares (8,707 acres), emphasizing the protection of the coral reef environment.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs swiftly condemned the initiative, labeling the establishment of the "Huangyan Island National Nature Reserve" as an "illegitimate and unlawful action." The department reaffirmed the Philippines’ sovereignty over the area and announced it would formally protest the declaration.

National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano characterized the reserve’s creation as "less about protecting the environment and more about justifying (China’s) control over... part of the territory of the Philippines." Ano warned that this move is a blatant pretext for "eventual occupation" of the shoal.

Adding to concerns, retired Rear Admiral Rommel Jude Ong, a professor at Manila's Ateneo School of Government, highlighted the possibility that China might engage in land reclamation and construct permanent installations in the area. Ong suggested that continued Philippine naval patrols could serve as an initial deterrent to such actions.

China’s Foreign Ministry rejected Manila’s claims, asserting that the area has never belonged to the Philippines. Spokesman Lin Jian dismissed the protest as "groundless accusations or so-called protests" and urged the Philippines to halt what it described as provocations to prevent further escalation.

Scarborough Shoal is located roughly 240 kilometers west of Luzon, the Philippines’ main island, and about 900 kilometers from Hainan Island, China’s nearest major territory. The area remains a flashpoint, notably after a recent incident in which a Chinese navy vessel collided with a Chinese coast guard ship during a pursuit of a Philippine patrol boat near the shoal.

China asserts claims over nearly the entire South China Sea—a vital trade corridor for over 60 percent of global maritime shipping—despite a 2016 international tribunal ruling invalidating its expansive claims under international law.