Kathmandu— The United States on Saturday rejected China's recent move to establish a national nature reserve at Scarborough Reef, arguing the decision threatens to restrict Filipino fishermen from accessing their traditional fishing grounds. The move by Washington comes in response to new management measures issued by Beijing for the disputed feature, which the U.S. characterizes as a unilateral attempt to advance maritime claims through dubious environmental and legal pretexts.

Dispute Over Maritime Management

China's recent announcement includes 16 articles aimed at managing the newly established reserve, according to reports from China Daily. These measures, approved by China's State Council, involve a coordination mechanism among the Ministry of Natural Resources, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, the China Coast Guard, and the People's Government of Hainan Province.

The new framework is designed to strengthen cooperation, information-sharing, and law enforcement against activities deemed illegal within the reserve area.

International Legal Context

The United States Department of State criticized the move as a destabilizing action that uses environmental pretexts to advance sweeping territorial claims at the expense of neighboring nations. The U.S. emphasized its support for the Philippines and its commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The tensions are rooted in long-standing disputes over Scarborough Shoal. A 2016 Arbitral Award, issued under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), ruled that China has no legal basis for claiming historic rights to resources within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, though China has consistently rejected that ruling.

The situation remains a point of significant tension between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea.

(With inputs from ANI)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.