US EditionU.S. Rejects China Nature Reserve Plan in South China Sea Area Near Philippines
The United States rejects China's plan for a nature reserve at Scarborough Shoal, emphasizing support for Filipino fishermen and regional stability amid ongoing territorial disputes.
- On September 12, 2025, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized China’s intention to create a protected area around Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, expressing support for the Philippines' objections to the move.
- On Wednesday, China approved the establishment of a nature reserve aimed at preserving the ecosystem of Scarborough Shoal, a territory claimed by the Philippines and located inside its maritime zone, although Beijing has maintained control over the area since 2012.
- Rubio called Beijing's move a coercive attempt to advance territorial claims that undermine regional stability and urged China to respect a 2016 tribunal ruling that invalidated its claims and protected Filipino fishermen's rights.
- Scarborough Shoal is located 240 kilometers west of Luzon and about 900 kilometers from Hainan, situated in the South China Sea where over 60 percent of the world’s maritime trade routes operate.
- The United States expressed support for the Philippines’ diplomatic protest against China’s establishment of a nature reserve at Scarborough Shoal, highlighting ongoing concerns over regional stability and the rights of local fishermen.
25 Articles
25 Articles
Why China wants to build a nature reserve in the South China Sea - Conservative Angle
Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned China’s recently announced plan to establish a nature reserve on one of the most hotly contested shoals in the South China Sea, which rival claimant the Philippines has already protested. The Chinese government approved a proposal on Wednesday to create a national nature reserve at Scarborough Shoal, which its National Forestry and Grassland Administration said would cover more than 3,500 hectares at Huan…
Why China wants to build a nature reserve in the South China Sea
Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned China’s recently announced plan to establish a nature reserve on one of the most hotly contested shoals in the South China Sea, which rival claimant the Philippines has already protested. The Chinese government approved a proposal on Wednesday to create a national nature reserve at Scarborough Shoal, which its National Forestry and Grassland Administration said would cover more than 3,500 hectares at Huan…
Rubio backs Philippines vs China’s 'coercive' Scarborough ‘nature reserve'
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday backed the Philippines in protesting Beijing's plan for a "nature reserve" on disputed Scarborough Shoal, saying it was part of a "coercive" strategy in the South China Sea.
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