US Rejects China's 'National Nature Reserve' Move at Scarborough Shoal, Backs Philippines

Tensions have flared in the South China Sea as the United States formally rejected China's new management measures and national nature reserve designation at Scarborough Shoal.

Key Highlights:
- US Position: The US State Department criticized China's actions as a unilateral attempt to advance maritime claims at the expense of its neighbors, reiterating its support for the Philippines and a free and open Indo-Pacific.
- Background of the Dispute: The controversy follows new regulations issued jointly by Chinese agencies on August 1 to manage the reserve approved in September 2025.
- 2016 Tribunal Ruling: The US and international stakeholders continue to back the 2016 UNCLOS tribunal ruling, which concluded that China's sweeping territorial claims lack legal foundation under international law—a ruling Beijing has consistently rejected.