Archive · 9 Aug 2026
US Says China's Scarborough Shoal Claim 'Destabilizing' Region
China and the Philippines are having a disagreement about a small island in the ocean called Scarborough Shoal.
It is a sea area where fishermen like to catch fish.
China has been in charge of the area since 2012 and now says people need permission before they fish or dig there.
The Philippines says the area belongs to them, not to China.
The United States is taking the side of the Philippines and says China is not being fair.
America's spokesperson Tommy Pigott said China is using fake excuses about protecting nature to take more ocean than it should.
Chinese and Philippine boats sometimes clash on the water, and China used big water cannons to spray Philippine ships.
The United States worries this makes the whole region less safe and wants to stop China from becoming too powerful.
China is also building new islands in the ocean to make its claim over the water stronger.
The US accused China of using 'dubious' environmental and legal pretexts, backed by coercion, to advance its South China Sea claims.
China announced new rules banning fishing and mining at Scarborough Shoal without prior approval, according to Xinhua news agency.
China has had effective control of Scarborough Shoal since 2012; the shoal lies less than 150 miles off the Philippine coast.
After multiple clashes in July, the Philippine coast guard said Chinese coast guard vessels used water cannons against its ships at the shoal on July 24.
The US, which has opposed the nature reserve since its inception in September, called the enforcement 'destabilizing' for the broader Indo-Pacific and supports the Philippines.
- Who
- US State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott, China, and the Philippines
- What
- China enforcing a nature reserve and new fishing and mining rules at Scarborough Shoal, which the US says is destabilizing
- When
- US statement on Saturday; new rules announced last week; water cannon incident on July 24
- Where
- Scarborough Shoal, less than 150 miles off the Philippine coast in the South China Sea
- Why
- China seeks to advance its territorial and maritime claims; the US backs the Philippines to check Beijing's influence in the region
China's Position
US-Philippines Position
Sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal
China's Position
China considers the shoal its territory and has held effective control since 2012.
US-Philippines Position
The Philippines says the shoal, less than 150 miles off its coast, belongs to it.
Purpose of the nature reserve
China's Position
China presents the nature reserve and new fishing and mining rules as management of its own territory.
US-Philippines Position
The US calls the reserve a 'dubious' environmental and legal pretext, backed by coercion, to expand China's claims.
Regional impact
China's Position
China asserts sweeping territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea, including building on manmade islands.
US-Philippines Position
The US calls the enforcement 'destabilizing' for the broader Indo-Pacific and backs the Philippines to check Beijing's influence.
- Location
- Scarborough Shoal, South China Sea
- Distance from Philippine coast
- Less than 150 miles
- China control since
- 2012
- New Chinese rules
- Fishing and mining prohibited without prior approval
- Water cannon incident
- July 24
- Nature reserve announced
- September
- US statement
- State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott called the enforcement 'destabilizing'