US and EU Condemn China’s Designation of Scarborough Reef as Nature Reserve

The United States and the European Union have sharply criticized China’s recent move to declare Scarborough Reef a "national nature reserve," condemning it as an attempt to impose sweeping maritime claims unilaterally in the disputed South China Sea region.

In a statement released Friday in Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described China’s designation as a destabilizing action intended to reinforce its control over Scarborough Reef, which the Philippines refers to as Bajo de Masinloc. Rubio stated, "Beijing claiming Scarborough Reef as a nature preserve is yet another coercive attempt to advance sweeping territorial and maritime claims at the expense of its neighbors. Such actions unlawfully restrict access to traditional fishing grounds long used by Filipino fishermen."

Rubio also called on China to adhere to the 2016 ruling issued by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. This tribunal concluded that China violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights by denying Filipino fishermen access to the reef, which lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone as defined under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Despite the binding nature of the ruling, China has rejected the decision.

Echoing Washington’s stance, the European Union urged China to comply with the 2016 arbitral award and refrained from unilateral measures that could change the existing conditions in disputed maritime areas. The EU emphasized, "The EU stands in support of Philippine maritime entitlements and sovereign rights under international law. Disputes should be resolved peacefully."

Responding to China’s establishment of the so-called "Huangyan Island National Nature Reserve," the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) formally protested the move, labeling it illegitimate and unlawful. The DFA affirmed that Bajo de Masinloc is a longstanding integral part of the Philippines, over which the country exercises sovereignty and jurisdiction.

The Filipino agency underscored its exclusive prerogative to designate environmental protection zones within its territory and called for China to revoke the State Council’s order, respect Philippine sovereignty, and adhere to international obligations under UNCLOS, the 2016 arbitral ruling, and the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

Situated roughly 120 nautical miles west of Luzon, Scarborough Reef has been a focal point in the South China Sea dispute since China assumed de facto control following a 2012 standoff with the Philippine Navy. The reef is not only vital to Filipino fishermen but also holds strategic significance for several countries, including China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei, all of which claim parts of the contested waters.

Recent months have seen heightened tension owing to increased Chinese maritime activity in the area and intensified international efforts to counter Beijing’s consolidation attempts in the South China Sea.