China has approved the construction of a national nature reserve at Scarborough Shoal, a hotly disputed territory that the Philippines also claims in the South China Sea. A notice posted online Wednesday by China’s State Council said that details about the area and size of the project would be released separately by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration. “The building of the Huangyan Island National Nature Reserve is an important guarantee for maintaining the diversity, stability and sustainability of the natural ecosystem of Huangyan Island,” the notice said, referring to Scarborough Shoal by its name in Chinese. Scarborough Shoal is the scene of frequent showdowns between Chinese and Philippine vessels as both try to enforce their claims to the territory. It is one of many South China Sea islands, islets and reefs that are claimed by China and one or more of its neighbors, including Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

Full report : China approves nature reserve at disputed South China Sea shoal claimed by the Philippines.