US rejects China’s attempt to enforce new restrictions at Scarborough Reef

The United States has rejected China’s attempts to enforce what it called a destabilising “national nature reserve” at Scarborough Reef. It said that Beijing is using environmental and legal measures to strengthen its territorial claims in the South China Sea while restricting Filipino fishermen’s access to traditional fishing grounds.In a statement issued on 8 August, US state department spokesperson Thomas “Tommy” Pigott said Washington opposes China’s ongoing efforts at Scarborough Reef and reaffirmed US support for the Philippines, a treaty ally, in promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific.The statement accused Beijing of attempting to deny Filipino fishermen access to waters recognised under the 2016 Arbitral Award and described China’s actions as coercive and unilateral.“The United States rejects China’s ongoing attempts to enforce its destabilizing ‘national nature reserve’ at Scarborough Reef and deny Filipino fishermen access to their traditional fishing ground as reflected in the 2016 Arbitral Award,” Pigott said.The United…