Beijing: A hotly contested chain of reefs and rocks in the South China Sea is soon to become a nature reserve, China said on Wednesday. The Scarborough Shoal, a triangular formation claimed by both China and the Philippines, has been the site of several conflicts, including a recent incident where a Chinese coast guard vessel collided with a larger Chinese military ship while pursuing a Philippine patrol boat. Known as Huangyan Island in China and Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc in the Philippines, this area has been at the center of territorial disputes between the two countries.
According to Radio Free Asia, China's State Council announced that the establishment of a nature reserve on Scarborough Shoal is a crucial step toward maintaining the diversity, stability, and sustainability of the atoll's natural ecosystem. The boundaries of the reserve are yet to be announced and will be outlined separately by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.