On a recent occasion, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed the United States’ support for the Philippines in their objection to China’s announced plans for a “nature reserve” at Scarborough Shoal, a contested region in the South China Sea. Rubio characterized China’s proposal as part of a broader “coercive” strategy aimed at asserting its dominance in the area.
In a statement shared on social media platform X, Rubio emphasized the US’s commitment to standing alongside its Philippine ally against what he termed as China’s destabilizing actions. He described the nature reserve initiative as yet another maneuver by China to advance its interests at the expense of neighboring countries and overall regional stability.
China’s announcement, which was made earlier in the week, included intentions to create a reserve aimed at preserving the “diversity, stability, and sustainability of the natural ecosystem of Huangyan Island,” the name China uses for Scarborough Shoal. In response, the Philippines declared it would lodge a formal protest, insisting that China’s objectives were more about exerting control than actual environmental protection.
Scarborough Shoal is strategically located approximately 240 kilometers west of the Philippine main island of Luzon and nearly 900 kilometers from Hainan, China’s nearest significant landmass. Despite a 2016 international tribunal ruling that invalidated China’s expansive claims over the South China Sea—an area crucial for global maritime trade, with over 60% of such trade passing through it—China continues to assert its claims.
Historically, the U.S. has expressed consistent support for the Philippines, a former colony with which it has a defense treaty. This backing has remained strong even amidst recent comments from former President Donald Trump that have called for more robust relations with Beijing.
Overall, the stance taken by Rubio and the U.S. signals a commitment to upholding international law and supporting allied nations amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the South China Sea.
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