Philippines Protests China's Scarborough Shoal Plan, Raising Occupation Fears

The Philippines has lodged a formal protest against China's plan to establish a nature reserve in the disputed Scarborough Shoal, a move Manila views as a potential prelude to occupation. The Philippine government has demanded that China immediately withdraw the plan, citing its infringement on Philippine rights and interests under international law.

China's State Council announced the approval of a national nature reserve at Scarborough Shoal, with the stated aim of protecting the coral reef. The shoal is a contested territory in the South China Sea, claimed by China and several of its neighbors, including the Philippines, where it is known as Bajo de Masinloc.

Philippine officials have condemned the plan, with the National Security Adviser calling it illegal and a violation of international law, including the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea and a 2016 international arbitration ruling. The Philippines accuses China of using the nature reserve as a pretext for eventual occupation.

The Philippine government has also criticized China for allowing its fishermen to engage in destructive practices, such as large-scale harvesting of endangered marine species, which caused significant reef damage in the past. The Philippines has previously stated that any construction by China at Scarborough Shoal would be a red line.

China has responded to the Philippine criticism, asserting that the establishment of the nature reserve falls within its sovereignty. China has rejected the Philippine protests and urged the Philippines to cease its actions. The Scarborough Shoal has been the site of numerous confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels in recent years.

The United States has also been involved in the area, deploying naval vessels near Scarborough Shoal in what it calls freedom-of-navigation operations. The U.S. has no claims in the disputed waters but has warned that it is obligated to defend the Philippines, a treaty ally, if Filipino forces come under armed attack.