DFA files ‘unequivocal’ protest vs China’s nature reserve in West PH Sea

This photo taken on February 15, 2024, shows an aerial view of China Coast Guard vessels and Chinese vessels identified by the Philippine Coast Guard as maritime militia surround the Philippine fishing boats and the BRP Datu Tamblot during a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-led mission to bring supplies and assistance to the fishermen in over Scarborough Shoal in the disputed West Philippine Sea (Photo by JAM STA ROSA / AFP).

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has formally filed a “strong, unequivocal” protest against China’s plan to establish a nature reserve at Scarborough Shoal, or Bajo de Masinloc, in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

In a Viber message to reporters on Saturday, DFA spokesperson Angelica Escalona confirmed that the protest was filed on Friday.

“The Department filed a protest yesterday, which is a strong, unequivocal, and formal articulation of [Philippines] objections to the [Chinese] action,” she said.

READ: China to establish nature reserve at disputed Scarborough Shoal

Earlier, China’s State Council approved the establishment of the so-called “Huangyan Island National Nature Reserve” at Bajo de Masinloc.

The DFA, in an earlier statement, asserted that Bajo de Masinloc is “a longstanding and integral part of the Philippines over which it has sovereignty and jurisdiction.”

“The Philippines likewise has the exclusive authority to establish environmental protection areas over its territory and relevant maritime zones,” the DFA added, urging China to immediately withdraw its State Council issuance in the territory.

‘Undermining regional stability’

Following the DFA’s diplomatic protest against China, the United States on Saturday also rejected Beijing’s plan to establish a nature reserve at Bajo de Masinloc.

“The United States stands with our Philippine ally in rejecting China’s destabilizing plans to establish a ‘national nature reserve’ at Scarborough Reef,” US Department of State Secretary Marco Rubio said.

“Beijing claiming Scarborough Reef as a nature preserve is yet another coercive attempt to advance sweeping territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea at the expense of its neighbors, including by preventing Filipino fishermen from accessing these traditional fishing grounds,” he added.

According to Rubio, the actions of China at the Scarborough Reef continue “to undermine regional stability.”

‘Follow the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling’

Rubio also reiterated that China must comply with the 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling, which affirmed the Philippines’ sovereign rights within its exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea.

“The United States calls upon China to abide by the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal’s unanimous decision that China had unlawfully prevented Filipino fishermen from engaging in traditional fishing at Scarborough Reef, which is final and legally binding on both parties,” he said.

On July 12, 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruled that Manila has exclusive sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea.

The court also declared China’s “nine-dash line” as “invalid.”

“Having found that certain areas are within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, the Tribunal found that China had violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone by (a) interfering with Philippine fishing and petroleum exploration, (b) constructing artificial islands and (c) failing to prevent Chinese fishermen from fishing in the zone,” the tribunal said in the decision in 2016.

The PCA issued the ruling after several months of hearings and document submissions, which China refused to attend. Beijing continues to reject the arbitral decision./mcm