US Rejects China's Scarborough Reef Reserve as 'Destabilising'
The U.S. State Department has rejected China's attempt to enforce a nature reserve at Scarborough Reef, calling it a unilateral move that undermines regional stability.
The United States has pushed back against China's efforts to enforce a national nature reserve at Scarborough Reef in the South China Sea. In a statement, the State Department described the move as 'destabilising' and another example of China advancing its sweeping territorial claims at the expense of its neighbours.
Washington views the establishment of such a reserve as a unilateral action that disregards the rights of other claimants and threatens freedom of navigation in the disputed waterway. The statement reflects ongoing US concerns over China's assertiveness in the region.
The rejection comes amid heightened tensions in the South China Sea, where multiple nations have overlapping claims. The U.S. has repeatedly called for a rules-based order and peaceful resolution of disputes.
Source: First Squawk