China Establishes Nature Reserve at Disputed South China Sea Shoal

China's State Council has approved the establishment of a national nature reserve at Huangyan Island, also known as Scarborough Shoal, a disputed territory in the South China Sea claimed by both China and the Philippines. The move aims to preserve the island's biodiversity, stability, and sustainability and is seen as a measure to strengthen ecological protection and enforcement against illegal activities within the area. The Chinese government emphasized the need for strict adherence to nature reserve regulations, enhanced leadership, and improved management practices to ensure the reserve's effective administration. This decision follows previous actions by China, including releasing geographic coordinates for base points around the shoal, and is likely to escalate tensions with the Philippines over sovereignty claims. Details on the reserve's size, boundaries, and zoning will be announced by China's National Forestry and Grassland Administration. The establishment of the reserve reflects China's broader strategy to assert control over the resource-rich and strategically important South China Sea region.