Well, well... declaring a Natural Reserve at #ScarboroughShoal is quite a sneaky move by #China: looks very eco-friendly, but blatantly contradicts the way Chinese fishing fleets tend to exploit the Oceans.
But more importantly China does this within the #EEZ of the #Philippines which makes this whole charade all the more embarrassing. A Natural Reserve? Come on, China's Coast Guard has already been feeding some fish with its crew in the #SouthEastAsianSea as of late. Very eco-conscious.
Incredible footage taken from a #Philippines coast guard ship near the #ScarboroughShoal. Supporting the supply of fishermen, the boat got harrassed and chased by one #PLA Navy destroyer and one of #China's coast guard ships, with all the usual shenanigans, water cannon spraying and dangerous, unprofessional behaviour.
Guess what? The two Chinese vessels collided. Quite a smack, nine crash line, anyone? #FarEast #SoutheastAsianSea https://youtu.be/hzZrcqf826E?si=8HoGaZ4IAIva2DbEPlay
Moment Chinese ships CRASH while tailing Filipino boat in South China Sea

YouTube

Because only Beijing is licensed to create trouble in the #SoutheastAsianSea - which no way is the South China Sea. The #UNCLOS ruling of 2016 was very clear in rejecting China's #NineDashLine nonsense as complete overreach.

"The #Philippines gears up to build a permanent military facility in the Ayungin shoal. The project is to be put in motion despite China's warning to the Philippines to avoid 'creating trouble' in the South #China Sea

#News #China

https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/12/27/23/ph-eyes-permanent-military-facility-in-ayungin

In other news, #China's #CCP insists on continuously overplaying its hand in the #SouthEastAsianSea.
Beijing's latest attempt to claim the #WhitsunReef by sending fisherboats as a marine #militia over there has pissed off way too many people in the #Philippines and may well lead to #Duterte finding some rests of his spine and finally standing up to his good buddies at #Zhongnanhai.

The Philippines have a very strong position, based on a #UNCLOS decision in 2016. Time for Manila to move.