China plans to declare Scarborough Shoal (also known as Bajo De Masinloc) in South China Sea (also known as Bajo De Masinloc) in the South China Sea. This proposal has been approved by the State Council of China, and is known as Huangyan Island National Nature Reserve.
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But there is a huge opposition in the surrounding countries about this move, especially from the Philippine. The Philippine government has called the proposal legally illegal, calling the proposal “violation of natural rights and sovereignty”. Policy advisor Eduardo Año said that this is a strategy of China to further strengthen the regional control of Shoal and make it an excuse for possession.

The United States, supporting this position of the Philippine, has described China’s plan as “Ksh-M taxing”, “dangerous to stability” and insult to the rights of other countries. US State Department Secretary Marco Rubio has said that this step is an attempt to promote China’s “aggressive” and regional claims, which can disrupt traditional fishing activities of neighboring countries.
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ially fishermen fear that this reserve will reduce their access to traditional fishing areas. The Philippine has requested China to withdraw the announcement and honor international laws, such as UnCLOS (United Nations Ocean Law Convention) and 2016 Tribunal Court (Arbitral Tribunal), stating that China has illegally deprived the Philippine fishermen to the traditional areas of SHOAL.

China argues that it is a step of nature conservation, aimed at protecting the biodiversity of the marine ecosystem, and ensuring the stability of the environment in the region.