China’s marine reserve at Scarborough Shoal reignites tensions with the Philippines, threatening peace in the South China Sea.
The Scarborough Shoal dispute has once again drawn global attention after China declared the area a protected marine reserve on September 10, 2025. The announcement, framed as an environmental initiative, has ignited backlash from the Philippines, which accuses Beijing of using ecology as a cover for territorial expansion.
Located just 134 nautical miles off the Philippine coast, Scarborough Shoal sits well within Manila’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), an area internationally recognized under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Despite this, China has exerted de facto control over the shoal since 2012, after a tense standoff between the two countries’ maritime forces.
To many observers, the latest move represents a strategic shift a new form of control masked as environmental protection.
China’s marine reserve declaration at Scarborough Shoal might sound like an effort to protect biodiversity, but Manila and its allies see something deeper. The protected area covers about one-third of the reef’s outer ring and includes three zones: a completely restricted core area, a buffer zone for research, and an experimental zone open for scientific visits.
What concerns regional analysts is not the conservation plan itself, but the strategic intent behind it. By declaring certain waters off-limits “for protection,” Beijing gains new authority to intercept Filipino vessels in the name of environmental enforcement. Critics argue that this could effectively bar Filipino fishermen from traditional fishing grounds a violation of their rights affirmed by the 2016 UNCLOS Tribunal ruling, which invalidated China’s sweeping territorial claims in the South China Sea.
Ironically, much of the reef’s environmental damage comes from years of overharvesting giant clams by Chinese fishing fleets, the very activity Beijing now claims to prevent.
Manila responded swiftly. Within 24 hours, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs issued a statement asserting that “only the Philippines has the authority to designate environmental protection areas” within its EEZ.
The move also drew international reactions. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned Beijing’s decision, labeling it “a coercive attempt to advance territorial claims under the cover of conservation.” Australia, Japan, and the United Kingdom echoed similar concerns, urging China to respect the 2016 arbitral ruling and avoid escalating the conflict.
Australia’s ambassador to the Philippines, Marc Innes-Brown, emphasized that Filipino fishermen maintain traditional fishing rights at Scarborough Shoal — rights recognized under international law.
Experts say this latest development is part of Beijing’s “salami-slicing strategy” a slow, incremental approach to assert control through small, seemingly harmless actions. Rather than overtly deploying military power, China often uses civilian, legal, or environmental tools to expand its influence across the South China Sea.
By designating the shoal a marine reserve, Beijing not only strengthens its presence but also gains a moral upper hand, portraying itself as an environmental protector rather than an aggressor. This tactic enables China to justify patrols, build monitoring stations, and even establish small ports under the guise of scientific research all of which enhance its military and surveillance reach.
The Scarborough Shoal dispute is, therefore, not just about ecology or fishing rights. It’s about geopolitical control a chessboard move in China’s long-term plan to dominate vital maritime routes.
For Manila, retreat is not an option. The Philippine Coast Guard continues to patrol the waters near the shoal, often encountering Chinese vessels that engage in aggressive maneuvers. These encounters have become increasingly risky.
In August 2025, two Chinese ships reportedly collided while pursuing a Filipino patrol boat an incident Beijing has refused to acknowledge publicly. The accident underscored how easily China Philippines South China Sea tensions could spiral into a larger crisis.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has made it clear that any deliberate attack on Filipino personnel would be viewed as “an act of war.” His statement reflects growing frustration with China’s actions and a firm stance on defending national sovereignty.
The Philippines’ defense posture is reinforced by its longstanding alliance with the United States. Under the 1952 Mutual Defense Treaty, any armed attack on Philippine forces could trigger American intervention. Recent statements from Washington confirm that this commitment extends to the South China Sea, including areas like Scarborough Shoal.
While the U.S. does not maintain permanent bases in the Philippines, its rotational troop deployments and Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) ensure American presence in the region. This arrangement means that any confrontation near the shoal could quickly draw in U.S. forces — a scenario that would raise the stakes dramatically.
Beijing’s portrayal of the Scarborough Shoal marine reserve as an environmental necessity is viewed with skepticism by much of the world. Analysts argue that the move is part of a broader narrative using environmentalism as soft power to legitimize territorial expansion.
If China genuinely intended to protect marine biodiversity, critics say, it would cooperate with neighboring nations through regional frameworks rather than unilateral declarations. Instead, the reserve’s establishment appears to serve a dual function: improving China’s global image while quietly tightening its control over contested waters.
This form of “green geopolitics” allows Beijing to claim moral authority in the global arena while continuing to assert dominance in the South China Sea.
The Scarborough Shoal dispute shows no sign of cooling down. Both China and the Philippines are standing firm, with neither side willing to compromise. For Manila, the issue is about sovereignty and livelihood; for Beijing, it’s about legitimacy and power projection.
Experts warn that continued China Philippines South China Sea tensions could lead to more maritime incidents, testing the limits of diplomacy. The involvement of the U.S. and its allies further complicates the equation, making Scarborough Shoal not just a bilateral dispute but a potential flashpoint in global geopolitics.
Still, there may be a path forward. Regional dialogues through ASEAN and international mediation under UNCLOS could help de-escalate the conflict but only if both sides commit to peaceful negotiation and respect for legal rulings.
The South China Sea territorial conflict remains one of the most volatile security challenges in Asia. China’s marine reserve declaration at Scarborough Shoal highlights its shift from open confrontation to subtler, strategic control a blend of environmental justification and political dominance.
For the Philippines, backed by international law and powerful allies, the struggle continues not just for territory but for sovereignty and regional stability.
In the end, the battle over Scarborough Shoal is more than a dispute over rocks and reefs. It’s a test of whether international law can still hold against the slow, methodical expansion of power in one of the world’s most contested seas.
