China has issued new management measures for the Huangyan Dao (Scarborough Shoal) National Nature Reserve in the disputed South China Sea

China has issued new management measures for the Huangyan Dao (Scarborough Shoal) National Nature Reserve in the disputed South China Sea

¨     China has issued new management measures for the Huangyan Dao arborough Shoal) National Nature Reserve in the disputed South China Sea.

¨   The move aims to strengthen China's administrative control over the disputed maritime area.

¨     It comes amid the long-standing territorial and maritime dispute between China and the Philippines.

¨     The measures are intended to protect the diversity, stability, and sustainability of the natural ecosystem of Huangyan Dao.

¨     The new rules prohibit unauthorised fishing, mining, and the exploitation of corals and giant clams.

¨     Entry into the reserve is restricted except for conservation-related purposes.

¨     The PLA Southern Theater Command conducted joint naval and air exercises around Huangyan Dao, reinforcing China's presence in the disputed waters.

¨     The Huangyan Dao National Nature Reserve is located in Sansha City, Hainan Province, with its coral reef ecosystem as the primary conservation area.

¨     The South China Sea lies south of mainland China and is bordered by Brunei, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Singapore.

¨     It is one of the world's most strategically important maritime regions, linking the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.

¨     Major disputed features in the South China Sea include Scarborough Shoal (Huangyan Dao), the Spratly Islands, the Paracel Islands, and the Pratas Islands.

¨     China claims nearly 90% of the South China Sea under its Nine-Dash Line, while the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan also maintain overlapping territorial claims.