US Condemns Beijing’s South China Sea Nature Reserve Plan at Scarborough Shoal

The United States has condemned China’s plan to establish a so-called “nature reserve” at the disputed Scarborough Shoal, backing the Philippines in what Washington described as yet another act of regional coercion by Beijing.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a strong statement on Friday, saying the proposal was “yet another coercive attempt” by China to assert sweeping maritime claims in the South China Sea.

“The US stands with our Philippine ally in rejecting China’s destabilising plans to establish a ‘national nature reserve’ at Scarborough Reef,” Rubio posted on X. “This is another example of Beijing using pressure tactics to push expansive territorial claims, disregarding the rights of neighbouring countries.”

China’s State Council announced earlier this week that it intends to create a protected ecological zone of 3,500 hectares at Scarborough Shoal, describing the move as essential for “biodiversity and sustainability”.

But the announcement has triggered sharp responses from Manila. The Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs said it would file a formal diplomatic protest, calling China’s move “illegitimate and unlawful”.

National Security Adviser Eduardo Año described the plan as a violation of multiple international agreements, including:

• The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),
• The 2016 international arbitral ruling that invalidated China’s sweeping claims over the South China Sea,
• And the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

“This is not about environmental protection,” Año said, “but about reinforcing China’s illegal control of a maritime feature that lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.”

Ongoing Tensions and Regional Pushback

Scarborough Shoal, also known as Huangyan Island in China, lies just 240km off the coast of Luzon. Though it falls within the Philippines’ EEZ, it has been effectively under Chinese control since a 2012 standoff.

Beijing has since deployed coastguard and militia vessels to monitor the area, frequently blocking Filipino fishermen from accessing the shoal’s rich fishing grounds — a traditional livelihood for generations of coastal communities in Luzon.

Analysts in Manila suggest China is using the “nature reserve” designation as a pretext for occupation.

“Beijing is testing the Philippines’ resolve,” said Julio Amador III of Amador Research Services. “If there is no strong pushback, we can expect similar tactics to be used elsewhere.”

In recent weeks, the Philippines has held joint naval exercises near the shoal with allies including Australia and Canada, simulating responses to aerial and maritime threats in disputed waters.

Meanwhile, China has reiterated its claim to “sovereignty” over the shoal, saying it would “resolutely defend” the area. Beijing continues to assert control over almost the entire South China Sea, despite competing claims from Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

The disputed waterway remains one of the world’s most strategically vital corridors, with over $3 trillion in annual trade transiting through it.

The latest escalation adds further strain to the already fraught US-China relationship and highlights the growing strategic alignment between Washington and Manila in countering China’s influence in the region.