China says it wants to protect coral reefs in the South China Sea. Experts are doubtful
China recently announced plans to transform Scarborough Shoal, a longstanding flashpoint in the South China Sea, into a marine nature reserve, a decision that has sparked concern in the Philippines. This development follows a series of maritime confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels near the shoal. While Manila asserts that the area falls within its exclusive economic zone, Beijing has maintained effective control over the waters since 2012. Philippine policymakers worry that the designation of the shoal as a reserve will serve less as a genuine environmental initiative and more as a mechanism to restrict Filipino fishing rights, thereby tightening China’s authority over an area central to coastal livelihoods.
Framing territorial consolidation as ecological stewardship reflects a broader Chinese strategy of legitimizing sovereignty claims under the guise of environmental protection. This maneuver simultaneously strengthens Beijing’s position in contested waters and complicates Manila’s response at a time of deepening security ties with the United States. Washington has repeatedly emphasized its willingness to support the Philippines in the face of Chinese pressure, but the Scarborough Shoal issue highlights the growing difficulty of balancing sovereignty disputes, livelihood concerns, and great-power competition.
James Borton, Senior Fellow at FPI, wrote in AP WORLD NEWS on September 18, 2025, about the resilience of U.S.-Vietnam relations.