The United States has criticised China over its latest actions in the South China Sea, warning that Beijing’s activities around the disputed Scarborough Shoal could further threaten regional stability.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the US State Department accused China of restricting Filipino fishermen from accessing waters around Scarborough Shoal, an area located off the coast of the Philippine island of Luzon.
Washington also rejected China’s decision to designate the disputed area as a “national nature reserve,” arguing that the move could be used to reinforce Beijing’s territorial claims.
“The United States rejects China’s ongoing attempts to enforce its destabilizing ‘national nature reserve’ at Scarborough Reef and deny Filipino fishermen access to their traditional fishing ground,” the State Department said.
According to Washington, the designation represents another unilateral effort to advance China’s territorial and maritime claims through what it described as questionable environmental and legal justifications.
The US government reiterated its support for the Philippines, saying it remains committed to promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
Tensions Rise Between China and Philippines
Relations between China and the Philippines have become increasingly strained in recent weeks, with repeated confrontations reported around Scarborough Shoal.
Among the incidents have been allegations that Chinese vessels used water cannons against Philippine ships operating near the disputed waters.
China and the Philippines both claim rights over Scarborough Shoal, which has remained a major source of tension between the two countries for years.
The dispute has also drawn significant international attention because of the strategic and economic importance of the South China Sea.
Philippines Challenged China’s Maritime Claims
The Philippines previously took its dispute with China to an international arbitration tribunal in The Hague.
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration largely rejected the legal basis for China’s expansive claims over much of the South China Sea under international maritime law.
China rejected the tribunal’s decision and did not participate in the arbitration proceedings. Beijing continues to maintain broad territorial claims in the region, commonly associated with its “nine-dash line”.
The South China Sea remains one of the world’s most strategically important waterways. It is a major route for international shipping, with trillions of dollars in trade passing through the region annually.
US Reaffirms Support for Philippines
Washington has increasingly strengthened its security and diplomatic support for the Philippines as tensions with China persist.
The United States has also conducted military exercises with regional partners while repeatedly stressing its commitment to maintaining freedom of navigation and a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously criticised China over its encounters with Philippine vessels.
Speaking during an ASEAN meeting in Manila in July, Rubio described the reported incidents as disturbing and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to its allies.
The latest US statement is expected to further underline the growing strategic alignment between Washington and Manila as both sides monitor developments around Scarborough Shoal and other disputed areas of the South China Sea.