The South China Sea feature is also claimed by the Philippines and is a significant source of tension between the two countries
The move comes months after China published a set of geographic coordinates for 16 base points around the feature, which it calls Huangyan Island and is known as the Panatag Shoal in the Philippines.
Beijing has controlled the sea feature since a stand-off with the Philippines in 2012.
The State Council said the establishment of the national nature reserve is “an important measure to preserve the diversity, stability and sustainability of the island’s natural ecosystem”.
In a statement to the Ministry of Natural Resources, it said relevant authorities “should hold a strong commitment to ecological and environmental protection responsibilities”.
