China Establishes Patrol System for Huangyan Island Reserve

China has issued management measures for the Huangyan Island National Nature Reserve, establishing a regular patrol system to protect the ecologically sensitive area in the South China Sea. The measures, jointly issued on August 1 by the Ministry of Natural Resources, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, China Coast Guard, and Hainan Provincial People’s Government, were reported by Xinhua News.

Context: A Reserve Born from Conservation and Sovereignty

Huangyan Island, located in the Zhongsha Islands, features a unique coral reef ecosystem with rare and endangered species including hawksbill turtles, green sea turtles, and giant clams. In September 2025, the State Council approved the establishment of the Huangyan Island National Nature Reserve, covering 3,523.67 hectares with a core zone of 1,242.55 hectares and an experimental zone of 2,281.12 hectares.

The management measures, comprising 16 articles, establish a coordination mechanism among the four issuing agencies to address major issues and share information. Under the framework, the Ministry of Natural Resources’ South China Sea Bureau serves as the management institution responsible for daily protection, resource monitoring, and ecological restoration.

Key Provisions: Strict Protection and Regular Patrols

According to the management measures, the reserve will implement strict protection measures. Fishing, mining, and excavation of corals, coral reefs, and giant clams are prohibited without approval. No individuals or organizations may enter the reserve except as provided by law or for conservation management activities.

Officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources and the National Forestry and Grassland Administration stated that “given the special geographical location of the reserve and the complex and diverse ecosystem structure, the Coast Guard agency should work with the management institution to establish a regular patrol system, reasonably equip patrol personnel and equipment, and promptly investigate and handle violations.” Violations will be prosecuted under China’s Ecological Environment Code, Maritime Space Utilization Management Law, Island Protection Law, Wildlife Protection Law, Coast Guard Law, and Nature Reserve Regulations.

Military and Law Enforcement Actions

On the same day the measures were issued, the People’s Liberation Army Southern Theater Command conducted joint sea-air exercises in Huangyan Island’s territorial sea, airspace, and surrounding areas, practicing reconnaissance and early warning, deterrence patrols, sea-air control, and joint strike operations. The Southern Theater Command stated that “Huangyan Island is China’s inherent territory. The Philippines’ so-called ‘territorial sea baseline’ at Huangyan Island is illegal and invalid.”

The China Coast Guard also conducted law enforcement exercises near Huangyan Island, including boarding inspections, interception and blocking, and forced towing operations. Coast Guard spokesperson Jiang Lue said, “Huangyan Island is China’s inherent territory. The China Coast Guard will increase law enforcement and control efforts in the waters near Huangyan Island and resolutely safeguard national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.”

Escalating Tensions with the Philippines

The measures come amid heightened tensions with the Philippines, which claims the island as Scarborough Shoal. On July 31, the Philippines announced plans to draw a “territorial sea baseline” at Huangyan Island, which China’s Foreign Ministry declared illegal and invalid. Lianhe Zaobao reported that the measures were issued against the backdrop of frequent clashes in the disputed waters.

China has expelled Philippine government vessels from Huangyan Island waters in late July, and the China Daily reported on the escalating standoff. India Today noted that the new rules are likely to sharpen the maritime dispute with the Philippines.

Analysis: Conservation and Control

China South China Sea Research Institute expert Chen Xiangmiao said the exercises will become routine, “just like our combat readiness patrols at Huangyan Island.” He added that the exercises serve as a warning to countries including the Philippines that “China’s will cannot be challenged.”

The establishment of the patrol system serves dual purposes: strengthening environmental protection of the ecologically significant coral reef ecosystem while reinforcing China’s administrative control over the disputed territory. The Guangming Daily photo essay from May documented the rich biodiversity of the area, including coral reefs, fish, and seagrass beds, highlighting what China says it aims to protect.

What’s Next

The management measures call for public education about coral reef and seagrass bed ecosystems and establish provisions for public reporting of violations. China has said it will continue to build and manage the reserve to high standards, with ongoing resource monitoring and ecological restoration efforts.

As the Philippines continues to assert its claims and China maintains its patrols and exercises, the Huangyan Island reserve is likely to remain a flashpoint in the South China Sea — where environmental protection and territorial sovereignty increasingly intersect.