Why in news?
Recently, China announced the establishment of a "National Nature Reserve" at Scarborough Shoal, a move it says is intended to protect the marine ecosystem.
 
About Scarborough Shoal

• Scarborough Shoal is a small, triangular-shaped coral atoll located in the South China Sea. It is also known by other names, including Huangyan Island (China) and Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal (Philippines).

Geography

• Location: Scarborough Shoal is situated approximately 220 km (120 nautical miles) west of the Philippines' main island of Luzon. It is located far closer to the Philippines than to the nearest major Chinese landmass, which is over 800 km away.
• Physical Features: The atoll has a circumference of about 46 km and an area of 150 square km, which includes a shallow, navigable lagoon.

Historical Context

• Named after the British merchant ship Scarborough which ran aground there in 1748.
• The area has been known by various names historically, including Maroona Shoal (Spanish era map).

Territorial Dispute

• Claimed by the Philippines, China, and Taiwan.
• China bases its claim on a historical narrative, stating that it has had ancestral territory in the region since the Yuan dynasty in the 13th century and secondly its part of broader claim to nearly the entire South China Sea, which is demarcated by what is known as the "nine-dash line."
• Philippines' claim is based on its geographical proximity and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), under which the shoal lies within its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
• The 2012 Scarborough Shoal standoff saw China take effective control after blocking Philippine attempts to detain Chinese fishermen.
• The United Nations Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in 2016 that China's expansive claims based on the "nine-dash line" have no legal basis, a verdict China rejects.
• China's presence has increased with coast guard patrols limiting Filipino fishermen’s access.

Strategic Importance

• Located near vital shipping lanes carrying over $3 trillion worth of global trade annually.
• Provides a natural safe harbor during storms for fishing vessels.
• The shoal's control offers strategic military and navigation advantages for regional powers.

Environmental and Economic Significance

• The surrounding waters are rich fishing grounds sustaining thousands of livelihoods, especially for Filipino coastal communities.
• Coral reef ecosystems are abundant, warranting environmental conservation efforts by claimant states.

The Scarborough Shoal dispute is emblematic of broader tensions between China and Southeast Asian nations over sovereignty, maritime rights, and regional security in the South China Sea.

Download Pdf