Beijing: A hotly contested chain of reefs and rocks in the South China Sea is soon to become a nature reserve, China said on Wednesday. The Scarborough Shoal, a triangular formation claimed by both China and the Philippines, has been the site of several conflicts. Notably, last month, a Chinese coast guard vessel pursuing a Philippine patrol boat collided with a larger Chinese military ship. Known as Huangyan Island in China and Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc in the Philippines, the area has long been a point of contention between the two nations.
According to Radio Free Asia, China's State Council emphasized that establishing a reserve on Scarborough Shoal is an important measure for maintaining the diversity, stability, and sustainability of the atoll's natural ecosystem. The boundaries of the reserve are to be announced separately by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration. This move highlights China's ongoing efforts to assert its territorial claims in the region while also addressing environmental concerns.