China Creates ‘Nature Reserve’ To Boost Its Sovereignty Claims in the South China Sea

Not content with building artificial islands and bullying its neighbors, China is increasingly using its domestic environmental laws to cement its illegal territorial grabs in the South China Sea. On September 10, Beijing announced plans to construct a national nature reserve around the Scarborough Shoal, a highly contested atoll long claimed by the Philippines.  

The project comes amid growing tensions between China and the Philippines over control of key strategic features in the region — outposts that may become critical for hosting U.S. and Filipino forces preparing to deter a Taiwan-related contingency.

Blotting Out Portions of the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone

China’s State Council announced its plans to establish what it is calling a “nature reserve” in a part of the South China Sea that is likely to extend across much of the shoal’s exclusive economic zone — now held by the Philippines — which would allow Beijing unimpeded access to the region’s mineral and fishing rights and strengthen its sovereignty claims.

The announcement comes on the heels of previous Chinese efforts to use environmental programs to justify its often-illegal presence in the South China Sea. In April, following the deployment of the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) to Sandy Cay, another maritime feature claimed by Manila, state media touted the Coast Guard’s efforts to clean up trash and debris while accusing the Philippines of damaging the island’s ecology.  

China Extends Sovereignty Claims Over Most of the South China Sea

China has long sought to undermine the stability of the South China Sea by illegally extending its sovereignty claims through a campaign of island building, maritime “law enforcement” deployments, and international lawfare. Beijing has continuously harassed neighboring states while using its own maritime forces to seize lucrative fishing grounds and pursue resource exploration. In all, China claims the rights to 90 percent of the region.

These expansion efforts have increasingly targeted the Philippines. Manila’s civilian and coast guard forces have faced growing Chinese intimidation as Beijing pressures it to abandon sovereignty claims over key maritime features. In August, a CCG ship nearly struck a Filipino supply vessel before accidentally plowing into a Chinese naval frigate. Chinese ships have previously targeted Filipino ships operating in other contested regions.

Washington Should Extend Diplomatic and Military Support to Manila

The United States should expand its efforts to deter Chinese aggression in the South China Sea while extending support to Manila. Washington should issue a formal statement in concert with its key regional allies and partners condemning China’s actions while noting Beijing’s vast artificial island-building activities have destabilized the region’s maritime environment and threaten key fishing grounds.

Washington should also extend visible signs of military support to Manila, a key treaty ally. The United States should conduct well-publicized naval patrols within the disputed areas, including those likely to be included within the nature reserve, to establish the precedent of freedom of navigation. The United States should also expand its defense cooperation with the Philippines, including accelerating mutual defense production and repair facilities, to strengthen the countries’ joint capacity to deter China.

Jack Burnham is a research analyst in the China Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). For more analysis from Jack and FDD, please subscribe HERE. Follow Jack on X @JackBurnham802. Follow FDD on X @FDD. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.