⚖️ Philippines Protests China's Scarborough Shoal Nature Reserve Plan
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Philippine Agriculture Department Backs High Seas Treaty Ratification
The Department of Agriculture expressed support Thursday for the Philippines' ratification of a United Nations treaty aimed at conserving marine biodiversity in international waters, as the agreement awaits Senate approval following presidential ratification last year.
The department endorsed the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, commonly known as the High Seas Treaty, which addresses marine resource management in areas outside national boundaries. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ratified the treaty in 2024, but it requires concurrence from two-thirds of Senate members to take effect under Philippine law.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel emphasized the treaty's strategic importance for the archipelagic nation, stating it would allow the Philippines "to safeguard its rich marine ecosystems while ensuring fair access to and equitable sharing of benefits from marine genetic resources." The department noted that participation would strengthen the country's position following the 2016 international arbitration ruling that rejected China's expansive South China Sea claims.
The treaty, adopted in June 2023 under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea framework, requires ratification by 60 nations to enter force by September 20. Currently, 57 countries have deposited ratification instruments, with the Philippines among those awaiting final legislative approval to join the international agreement covering environmental assessments and marine protected areas in international waters.
Philippines Protests China's Scarborough Shoal Nature Reserve Plan
The Philippine government filed a formal diplomatic protest Thursday against China's plan to establish a national nature reserve at the disputed Scarborough Shoal, calling the move an illegitimate action that violates international law and Philippine sovereignty. The Department of Foreign Affairs said it would challenge what it termed China's "unlawful action" that infringes on Philippine rights in the resource-rich area both countries claim.
China's State Council approved the creation of what Beijing calls the "Huangyan Island National Nature Reserve," describing it as essential for maintaining the ecosystem's diversity and sustainability. Chinese authorities said they would soon announce specific boundaries and zoning for the reserve, but Philippine officials characterized the environmental justification as a pretext for eventual occupation of the strategic maritime feature.
National Security Adviser Eduardo Año rejected China's conservation rationale, noting the contradiction in Beijing's claims given that Chinese fishers have conducted "large-scale harvesting of endangered species and reef destruction" at the shoal since 2016. Manila maintains the move crosses established "red lines" regarding construction activities at the area it calls Bajo de Masinloc, emphasizing that only the Philippines has authority to establish environmental protection areas over its territory.
The dispute centers on competing claims over the shoal, which China seized from the Philippines in 2012 following a two-month standoff. The 2016 international arbitration ruling at The Hague invalidated China's expansive South China Sea claims and recognized the area as a traditional fishing ground, though Beijing refuses to recognize the decision. The shoal lies 124 nautical miles from the Philippines and 472 nautical miles from China's nearest province.
Analyst Warns Philippines Could Become 'Ukraine of Asia' Amid US-China Tensions
A Philippine defense analyst has warned that the country's strengthening alliance with the United States could potentially draw America into a conflict with China similar to the Ukraine-Russia situation, as regional tensions escalate over disputed South China Sea territories. Roland Simbulan, a geopolitical expert, argues that China's military strategy of building artificial islands and using gray zone tactics has fundamentally altered the regional balance of power.
China has militarized artificial islands including Mischief Reef, Fiery Cross Reef, and Subi Reef with anti-air missiles, radar systems, and combat aircraft, while using coast guard vessels and maritime militia for aggressive enforcement through water cannoning and ramming tactics. The 2016 Hague arbitration ruling rejected China's nine-dash-line claims as having no legal basis under international maritime law, but Beijing continues to assert its expansive territorial demands through non-kinetic pressures and diplomatic coercion.
The United States has responded by significantly strengthening its military presence in the Philippines through Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement bases now equipped with Typhon and Tomahawk missiles, effectively transforming what was once considered an "American Lake in the Pacific." This robust US-Philippines alliance creates the potential for America to be drawn into a regional conflict, with Simbulan noting that such a scenario could lead to humanitarian crises, infrastructure destruction, and rapid escalation involving other regional players.
Simbulan suggests the Philippines should consult with ASEAN neighbors on its defense arrangements to promote regional stability, particularly as Manila prepares to chair the ASEAN Summit in 2026. He argues that while the "Ukraine of Asia" scenario remains concerning, it is not inevitable if diplomatic efforts, adherence to international law, and coordinated regional dialogue can reduce tensions and strengthen pro-peace diplomacy in the disputed waters.
Commentary: Philippines Military Base a Prudent Response to Growing Taiwan Tensions
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Chinese Ships Drop to 7 Vessels Near Ayungin Shoal Due to Weather. The Philippine Navy reported that Chinese maritime forces near the disputed Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea have decreased to just 7 vessels (including coast guard and maritime militia ships) due to recent weather disturbances, marking a significant reduction from previous weeks.
AFP Launches Youth Campaign Against China Misinformation in West Philippine Sea. The Armed Forces of the Philippines Northern Luzon Command and intelligence agency NICA conducted an Information Education Campaign for 1,200 students in Pampanga, teaching them about protecting Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea and countering Chinese misinformation as part of the military's "Mulat" communication plan.
Taiwan Rejects China's Scarborough Shoal Nature Reserve Plan in South China Sea. Taiwan's government rejected China's approved plan to establish a national nature reserve on the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, with Taiwan's foreign ministry reaffirming its territorial claims and calling China's unilateral decision "hegemonic" while expressing willingness to resolve disputes peacefully with regional countries including the Philippines.
Philippine Military Raises Flag at Mavulis Island, Northernmost Territory Facing Taiwan. Top Philippine military commanders and reservist leaders visited Mavulis Island in Batanes, the country's northernmost territory facing Taiwan and the Bashi Channel, where they installed a sovereignty marker and raised the Philippine flag to reaffirm territorial claims and promote patriotism among Filipino citizens.
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