US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed support for the Philippines in opposing China’s plan to establish a “nature reserve” on the disputed Scarborough Shoal.
He called China’s move a “coercive” tactic that threatens regional stability and advances China’s interests at the expense of its neighbors.
China announced the reserve to protect the ecosystem, but the Philippines accused it of trying to assert control over the area.
Scarborough Shoal is located 240 kilometers west of Luzon and is part of the contested South China Sea, which China claims almost entirely despite a 2016 international court ruling against its claims.
The US continues to back the Philippines amid ongoing tensions in the region.
Source: PhilNews24 | September 14, 2025
