Summary
The United States has criticized China's plan to establish a nature reserve at the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, siding with the Philippines in opposition to the idea. The shoal is a contested area controlled by China but located within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. The Philippines plans to formally protest China's designation of the area as a nature reserve, viewing it as an attempt by China to assert control.
Key Facts
- U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, condemned China's plan to make Scarborough Shoal a nature reserve.
- Scarborough Shoal is a disputed area in the South China Sea, controlled by China since 2012.
- The shoal lies within 240 km (150 miles) of Luzon, the main island of the Philippines, and is inside the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.
- The Philippines' government opposes the plan and will file a formal diplomatic protest.
- The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and a 2016 ruling favored the Philippines' claims over such maritime areas.
- The Philippines, Australia, and Canada recently conducted joint naval drills near the area.
- China claims nearly the entire South China Sea but faces competing claims from several countries.
