China’s “nature reserve” gambit at a disputed shoal appears to have backfired, leading directly to a collision at sea with the Philippines on Tuesday. Just six days after the controversial declaration, Chinese ships used water cannons on a Philippine fleet near Scarborough Shoal and are now accusing Manila of a deliberate ramming.
The encounter involved over ten Philippine government ships. China’s Coast Guard claims it acted to repel an intrusion, but the situation escalated to a physical impact. Beijing has since launched a blame campaign, insisting the Philippines instigated the confrontation with a “provocative” maneuver.
The context is China’s announcement last week to make part of the shoal—known in Manila as Bajo de Masinloc—a national nature reserve. This was immediately met with suspicion and seen as a ploy to cement its territorial claims. A formal protest from Manila was already in the works before the on-water clash erupted.
The South China Sea is a powder keg of overlapping claims, driven by China’s assertion of historical rights over nearly the entire area. Control over these waters is critical for access to rich fishing resources and some of the world’s most vital shipping lanes.
Several nations have voiced their support for Manila. A US lawmaker slammed the nature reserve plan as a tactic to bully neighbors. The sentiment was shared by the UK and Australia, who expressed concern, while Canada was even more direct, stating its opposition to “environmental protection as a way to take control” of the contested shoal.