The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it will file a diplomatic protest against China’s planned establishment of a national nature reserve in the hotly contested Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc), which is an integral part of the Philippines’ sovereignty and jurisdiction.

The DFA issued a statement on Thursday, Sept. 11, a day after China’s State Council announced the establishment of the “Huangyan Island National Nature Reserve.”

“The Philippines strongly protests the recent approval by the State Council of China of the establishment of the so-called ‘Huangyan Island National Nature Reserve’,” the department said.

“The Philippines will be issuing a formal diplomatic protest against this illegitimate and unlawful action by China as it clearly infringes upon the rights and interests of the Philippines in accordance with international law,” it added.

The shoal—the site of frequent showdowns between Philippine and Chinese vessels—is one of the many South China Sea islands, islets and reefs that are claimed by China and one or more of its neighbors, including Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

But the shoal sits just 124 nautical miles from the west of the Philippines’ main island of Luzon, well within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). In contrast, it is more than 470 nautical miles away from mainland China’s southernmost province of Hainan.

“Bajo de Masinloc is a longstanding and integral part of the Philippines over which it has sovereignty and jurisdiction,” the DFA emphasized.

“The Philippines likewise has the exclusive authority to establish environmental protection areas over its territory and relevant maritime zones,” it furthered.

The DFA urged China “to respect the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the Philippines over Bajo de Masinloc” and “refrain from enforcing and immediately withdraw its State Council issuance.”

It also asked the Asian economic powerhouse to comply with its obligations under international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the final and binding 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, and the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).

According to China’s State Council, the establishment of the natural reserve is an “important guarantee for maintaining the diversity, stability and sustainability of the natural ecosystem of Huangyan Island.”

On Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian claimed the shoal "has always been China’s territory" and the planned establishment of a nature reserve there is  "in line with China’s domestic laws and international law."

"To establish the Huangyan Dao national nature reserve is within China’s sovereign rights, which is aimed at protecting the ecological environment of the island, and ensuring its ecological diversity, continuity and sustainability," he said in a press conference.

The official likewise rejected the Philippines' protest and "groundless accusations" against China.

"The scope of Philippine territory is defined by several international treaties, and has never included Huangyan Dao... We urge the Philippines to stop violating China’s sovereignty, making provocation, and spreading disinformation, and stop creating factors that could complicate the situation at sea," he said.