US slams Chinese ‘nature reserve’ as effort to claim South China Sea

The United States State Department has formally accused China of engaging in destabilizing activities near the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. U.S. officials contend that China is utilizing the establishment of a purported nature reserve as a pretext to advance its territorial claims and deny Filipino vessels access to traditional fishing grounds in the contested region.

The Scarborough Shoal is a resource-rich reef formation located approximately 240 kilometers from the main Philippine island. The U.S. characterizes China's environmental justifications for its presence in the area as dubious, framing the actions as a strategic effort to exert control over the disputed maritime territory.