Scarborough Shoal

• China announced the creation of a “National Nature Reserve” at Scarborough Shoal, covering a 3,524-hectare coral reef ecosystem.
• The Philippines has strongly protested this move, viewing it as an unlawful and illegitimate attempt by China to consolidate its control over the area under the guise of environmental protection.

About Scarborough Shoal

• Scarborough Shoal is a triangular-shaped atoll located in the South China Sea, named after a British Ship grounded on the atoll nearly three centuries ago.
• It is located approximately 120 nautical miles west of the Philippine island of Luzon and inside its exclusive economic zone.
• Also called Huangyan Island by Beijing and Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc by Manila, it has long been a flashpoint over sovereignty and fishing access.

Strategic & Economic Significance

• Geopolitical Location: The shoal’s location in the South China Sea, a waterway through which more than $3 trillion in annual trade passes, makes it a strategically significant point.
• Rich fishing ground: The waters around the shoal are rich in marine life, providing a vital source of livelihood for thousands of fishermen from the Philippines, China, and Vietnam.
• Shelter: The atoll’s turquoise lagoon provides safe harbour for vessels seeking shelter from storms and typhoons.

Sovereignty Claims

• Philippines’s Claim: Philippines argues that the shoal falls within its 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The shoal is significantly closer to the Philippines than to China.
  • It cites historical maps, such as the 1734 Murillo Velarde map, which show the shoal as part of its territory under the name “Panacot.”
• China’s Claim: China claims the shoal as its ancestral territory, citing historical records that date back to the Yuan dynasty in the 13th century.
  • China’s claim is part of its broader assertion of sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea, represented by its “nine-dash line.”
• In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) found China’s claims to the South China Sea, based on the nine-dash line, had no legal basis. The court also ruled that China’s actions at Scarborough Shoal violated international law because the area is a traditional fishing ground for multiple countries. However, the tribunal did not rule on sovereignty over the shoal. China rejected the ruling.
• Current Situation: China continues to maintain a constant presence of its coast guard and maritime militia vessels at the shoal, effectively controlling access to the lagoon. This has led to frequent confrontations and diplomatic protests.

Other Conflicts in the South China Sea