Done badly, it would exclude and exacerbate mistrust. Done well, it could pave the way for a model of conservation in contested waters
A marine area designated as a nature reserve under Chinese law is broadly equivalent to what is known internationally as a marine protected area – the establishment of which is a growing global trend. Supporters see the move to protect Scarborough Shoal’s fragile reef as evidence of Beijing’s readiness to assume its environmental responsibilities and integrate ecological priorities into maritime governance.
In the South China Sea region, government reactions vary. None of the other claimant states – Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei – has made any official statement. The silence may reflect caution: jurisdictional implications aside, ecological protection is a goal hard to oppose.
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