This island, subject to sovereignty disputes, is known as Huangyan Island in China, Panatag Shoal in the Philippines, and internationally as Scarborough Shoal. For a long time, it has been a flashpoint for friction between China and the Philippines over sovereignty and fishing rights. The waters around it also serve as a vital passage for over $3 trillion in global shipping trade annually.
In recent years, sovereignty disputes between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea have escalated. In August this year, both sides accused each other of causing a collision involving a Chinese vessel near Huangyan Island.
In September, China established a national-level nature reserve on the island, a move that drew strong protests from Manila. Philippine National Security Adviser Eduardo Año stated at the time that China’s proposal to establish a marine protected area “appears less about environmental conservation and more about legitimizing its control over parts of Philippine territory.”
This flag-raising and oath-taking ceremony by the Chinese Coast Guard marks the first such event since the nature reserve’s establishment. Currently, multiple coast guard vessels are conducting routine patrols within the newly designated marine protected area around Huangyan Island.
