US condemns China's Scarborough Reef 'nature reserve' move amid South China Sea tensions

The United States has criticised China over a new move at Scarborough Reef in the disputed South China Sea, saying Beijing is using environmental language to strengthen its territorial claims. In a statement issued on Saturday, the US State Department said China was attempting to deny Filipino fishermen access to the waters around the reef, which lies near the Philippine island of Luzon. The statement rejected China's description of the area as a "national nature reserve" and said the move was part of a broader effort to advance sweeping maritime claims.

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The US said China's approach relied on "dubious environmental and legal pretexts" backed by coercion. It said the policy was aimed at blocking Filipino fishermen from their traditional fishing grounds and at reinforcing China's position in the contested area. The statement also said Washington stood with the Philippines in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The remarks came as tensions in the area have risen again in recent weeks. Those tensions include an incident in which Chinese ships fired water cannon at Filipino fishing vessels near Scarborough Shoal. The reef and surrounding waters are claimed by both China and the Philippines, and the dispute has lasted for decades.

The Philippines has taken its case to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which largely dismissed China's sweeping claims as unlawful under international maritime law. China did not take part in the arbitration and has continued to assert its position in the area. The latest exchange matters because Scarborough Reef sits in one of the world's most sensitive maritime flashpoints.

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The South China Sea is a strategic route for military activity and commercial shipping, with more than $3 trillion worth of goods passing through the sea each year, according to the supporting material. Control over reefs, shoals and surrounding waters has long been tied to questions of sovereignty, access to fishing grounds and wider regional influence. Any change in the status of Scarborough Reef is likely to be watched closely by Manila, Beijing and Washington.

China has become more assertive in the South China Sea in recent years, including by building artificial islands and intercepting Philippine fishermen in contested waters. The dispute over Scarborough Shoal has remained one of the most persistent points of friction between the two countries. The US statement adds another layer to the diplomatic pressure surrounding the issue, particularly because Washington has publicly backed the Philippines.

It also shows how environmental claims can become part of wider territorial disputes in the region. What remains unclear is whether China will respond directly to the US criticism or alter its approach at Scarborough Reef. It is also not clear whether the latest statement will lead to further diplomatic exchanges or new maritime incidents.

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