CONSERVATION OR CONTROL?

China’ declaration of a nature reserve in the South China Sea, ostensibly aimed at protecting the fragile coral reef ecosystem of Huangyan Island, better known internationally as Scarborough Shoal, is less an act of environmental guardianship than a calculated assertion of sovereignty.

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The shoal, a triangular chain of reef and rock enclosing a fish-rich lagoon, has for decades been one of the region's most hotly disputed territories, claimed not only by China but also by the Philippines and Taiwan. Since 2012, when Beijing wrested effective control after a tense standoff with Manila, Scarborough Shoal has remained a flashpoint of confrontation. Philippine ships have continued to test the waters by approaching the area, but China’s presence — from coast guard patrols to the deployment of maritime militia — has ensured that its grip has never slackened. The recent announcement of a nature reserve must therefore be viewed in the broader continuum of Beijing’s strategy to convert de facto occupation into de jure administration. By presenting its control as a form of responsible stewardship, China is layering legality and legitimacy over a military reality, and in doing so is sending a clear signal: the South China Sea will not be left to international arbitration or bilateral compromise, but will be shaped and governed by Beijing’s long-term designs.