China has laid down the law on Huangyan Island, reserving space for reclamation and denying the Philippines any opportunity to encroach. The Marcos administration can now abandon all hope starting today.
Late at night on September 10, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration announced the official designation of Huangyan Island as a national nature reserve, including the specific area, scope, and functional zoning.
This move is another significant step in China’s actions to defend its territorial rights in the South China Sea and protect the environment, marking a new phase of institutionalization and legalization in China’s jurisdiction over Huangyan Island.
According to the announcement, the total area of the Huangyan Island national nature reserve is 3,523.67 hectares, with 1,242.55 hectares designated as the core area and 2,281.12 hectares as the experimental zone, primarily aimed at preserving the coral reef ecosystem.
It is important to note that the designated protection area mainly covers the northeastern part of the Huangyan Island atoll, while the vast western and southern areas, especially the lagoon, have been excluded from protection.
This “blank space” is not an oversight but a well-thought-out strategic plan—leaving room for future land reclamation and the construction of necessary infrastructure.
Huangyan Island vs. Ren’ai Reef: Two Fronts, Two Narratives
Huangyan Island is often confused with Ren’ai Reef in public perception.
To clarify: Ren’ai Reef is where the Philippines unlawfully “grounded” an old World War II U.S. ship, while Huangyan Island is an ecological fortress under China’s effective control.
In 1999, the Philippines deliberately ran the aging U.S. “BRP Sierra Madre” onto Ren’ai Reef, trying to create a fait accompli. Over the years, the Philippines has repeatedly attempted to reinforce its presence by sending supplies to the ship, resulting in numerous maritime standoffs with China.
In contrast, since 2012, China has implemented regular patrols around Huangyan Island, establishing full, peaceful, and effective control.
Currently, the Philippines’ main activities in Huangyan Island involve illegal fishing by civilian vessels and provocations by small coast guard boats, which are then hyped by Western media, portraying China as the bully and attempting to establish a victim narrative.
The establishment of the nature reserve serves as a strong counterpoint to this narrative. China speaks with scientific data:
The 2024 “Ecological Environment Status Report on Huangyan Island” reveals that the area boasts excellent water quality, healthy coral reefs, and rich biodiversity, comparable to the Great Barrier Reef.
Meanwhile, the “Ecological Destruction Report on Ren’ai Reef,” published at the same time, highlights significant coral coverage decline and severe heavy metal pollution due to the Philippine military’s long-term rusting ships and waste discharge, pushing the ecosystem to the brink of collapse.
These two “health reports” are undeniable evidence: it is clear who is safeguarding the South China Sea’s ecology and who is destroying it.
Ecology as a Pretext, Sovereignty in Practice: Legal Tools and Enforcement Upgrades
Establishing the nature reserve is not just about environmental protection, but also serves as a powerful legal tool to reinforce sovereignty.
According to domestic laws like the “Marine Environmental Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China” and the “China Coast Guard Law,” any unauthorized entry into the reserve will be considered illegal fishing, ecological damage, or a national security threat.
This means that if any Philippine vessels trespass in Huangyan Island’s waters again, China’s Coast Guard will not merely “dispel” them but will have the legal grounds to board, inspect, seize the vessels, and hold individuals accountable for violating laws like “illegal entry into a nature reserve” and “damage to coral reefs.”
This move will significantly limit the Philippines’ ability to exploit “gray area” operations and escape sanctions under the guise of “fishermen working.”
The establishment of the reserve also signals systematic development at Huangyan Island. The core area will focus on ecological protection, while the non-protected regions will be available for future construction of Coast Guard bases, meteorological stations, lighthouses, communication facilities, and even runways for airports.
Once reclamation projects are completed, like those on Yongxing Island, China will solidify its control over the surrounding airspace and waters, forming a strategic containment of the Philippines’ western coast of Luzon. This would make it much harder for the Philippine Navy and Air Force to freely enter the South China Sea.
Strategic Significance: From Passive Response to Active Shaping
Overall, this action highlights China’s strategic maturity and determination on the South China Sea issue. In the past, China mostly responded to provocations from the Philippines; now, it is proactively setting the agenda and shaping the rules.
By establishing the reserve, China positions itself as the “advocate of marine ecological civilization” and the “defender of international law,” gaining the moral and legal high ground.
This not only helps win the understanding and support of ASEAN countries but also makes it harder for external powers like the U.S. to intervene under the guise of “freedom of navigation.”
As China has repeatedly emphasized, peace and stability in the South China Sea align with the interests of all regional nations, and efforts to destabilize the region through external forces are unpopular.
Now, with the creation of the Huangyan Island National Nature Reserve, China has laid down new rules. All activities around Huangyan Island and its surrounding areas will be further institutionalized and regulated.
On this issue, China has enough strategic resolve and a long-term plan, backed by the strength to support it. Regardless of how the Philippines resists or obstructs, the entire process is irreversible.
If the Philippines continues to tolerate illegal fishing or dispatch public vessels for provocation, it will face “painful consequences,” and this will serve as a crucial leverage for China to assert its sovereignty over Huangyan Island. In short, the situation at Huangyan Island has been decided, and the rest is to be seen.
References:
• “China’s Actions in the South China Sea: Strengthening Sovereignty and Ecology.” Global Times, Sept. 10, 2025.
• “The Geopolitical Importance of Huangyan Island.” Military Today, 2025.
