The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has filed a diplomatic protest against China’s plan to build a national nature reserve in the hotly contested Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc) in the West Philippine Sea.

The protest was filed on Friday, Sept. 12, DFA spokesperson Angelica Escalona said.

“The Department filed a protest yesterday, which is a strong, unequivocal and formal articulation of PHL objections to the CHN action,” she said in a statement on Saturday, Sept. 13.

This came after the Sept. 10 announcement of China’s State Council that it will establish the “Huangyan Island National Nature Reserve,” and described it as an “important guarantee for maintaining the diversity, stability and sustainability of the natural ecosystem of Huangyan Island.”

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.

It 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.

In an earlier statement, the DFA reiterated that the shoal is “a longstanding and integral part of the Philippines” over which it has sovereignty and jurisdiction.

It also emphasized the Philippines’ “exclusive authority” to establish environmental protection areas over its territory and maritime zones.

The DFA has further 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.”

China nixes PH protest

But the Foreign Ministry of China insisted 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," Spokesperson Lin Jian said in a press conference on Sept. 11.

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," he said, urging the Philippines to "stop violating China’s sovereignty, making provocation, and spreading disinformation, and stop creating factors that could complicate the situation at sea."

The United States is standing with the Philippines in condemning the planned establishment of a “national nature reserve” at Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

In a statement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed the nature reserve is another “destabilizing” plan of China that undermines "regional stability.”

“Beijing claiming Scarborough Reef as a nature preserve is yet another coercive attempt to advance sweeping territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea,” he said.

“The United States calls upon China to abide by the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal’s unanimous decision that China had unlawfully prevented Filipino fishermen from engaging in traditional fishing at Scarborough Reef, which is final and legally binding on both Parties,” he added.