The United States has rejected China’s attempts to enforce what it called a destabilising “national nature reserve” at Scarborough Reef. It said that Beijing is using environmental and legal measures to strengthen its territorial claims in the South China Sea while restricting Filipino fishermen’s access to traditional fishing grounds.In a statement issued on 8 August, US state department spokesperson Thomas “Tommy” Pigott said Washington opposes China’s ongoing efforts at Scarborough Reef and reaffirmed US support for the Philippines, a treaty ally, in promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific.The statement accused Beijing of attempting to deny Filipino fishermen access to waters recognised under the 2016 Arbitral Award and described China’s actions as coercive and unilateral.“The United States rejects China’s ongoing attempts to enforce its destabilizing ‘national nature reserve’ at Scarborough Reef and deny Filipino fishermen access to their traditional fishing ground as reflected in the 2016 Arbitral Award,” Pigott said.The United States further alleged that China was using environmental and legal justifications to advance broader maritime claims across the South China Sea.“This is yet another unilateral attempt by China to use dubious environmental and legal pretexts, backed by coercion, to advance its sweeping territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea at the expense of its neighbours,” the statement said.Washington also reiterated its commitment to the Philippines amid continuing tensions in the disputed waters.“The United States stands with our Ally, the Philippines, in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Pigott said.Scarborough Reef has remained one of the most contested areas in the South China Sea, where China, the Philippines and several other countries have overlapping territorial and maritime claims. The 2016 international arbitration ruling found that China’s expansive claims had no legal basis under international law, although Beijing has rejected the ruling and continued to assert control over areas within the disputed sea.
