• The Philippines protests China's establishment of a nature reserve at Scarborough Shoal.
• Manila claims sovereignty over the shoal, known locally as Bajo de Masinloc.
• China defends its plan as a sovereign right aimed at protecting the ecosystem.
• Escalating tensions could draw in the US amid territorial conflicts.
• The situation reflects broader regional disputes in the South China Sea.

The Philippines has lodged a formal diplomatic protest against China's recently approved plan to establish a national nature reserve at Scarborough Shoal, a territory in the South China Sea claimed by both nations. The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs expressed that China's move is "illegitimate and unlawful," asserting that it infringes upon Manila's rights and interests, as the shoal is considered a "longstanding and integral part" of the Philippines according to international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Channel News Asia, Al Jazeera, South China Morning Post, and TRT Global.

China's announcement to create a nature reserve at Scarborough Shoal, which includes "core" and "experimental" zones, aims to maintain the area's ecological stability. However, Philippine officials, including National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano, criticized the initiative as a strategic pretext for potential occupation rather than a genuine conservation effort, highlighting concerns over increased Chinese military presence in the region Channel News Asia, South China Morning Post, and TRT Global.

The Scarborough Shoal has been a longstanding site of contention, with both sides frequently engaging in confrontations over fishing rights and territorial claims. The area has been a traditional fishing ground for Filipino fishermen, but any move towards stricter enforcement of the so-called nature reserve could further restrict their access, amid ongoing tensions following incidents where Chinese vessels impeded Philippine operations near the shoal Al Jazeera, South China Morning Post, and TRT Global.

China's Foreign Ministry has vehemently defended the establishment of the reserve as part of its sovereign rights, rejecting Manila's claims and urging the Philippines to cease what it describes as provocations. It emphasizes that Scarborough Shoal has "never been part of Philippine territory," thus dismissing the protests as "groundless" Channel News Asia, South China Morning Post, and TRT Global.

The controversy surrounding the nature reserve highlights broader geopolitical tensions in the South China Sea, which is crucial for global trade, with maritime routes that account for nearly 60% of global shipping. The potential for increased tensions could also implicate the United States, given its defense treaty obligations to the Philippines, raising concerns over a volatile regional security environment Al Jazeera, South China Morning Post, and TRT Global.