In September 2025, following the designation of territorial sea baselines of Huangyan Dao in 2024, the Chinese government announced the establishment of the Huangyan Dao National-Level Nature Reserve.

This decision not only represents a critical step in China’s ecological governance in the South China Sea but also signifies a move of profound strategic importance and historic groundbreaking implications—using ecological conservation and scientific governance to alleviate geopolitical tensions, replacing traditional zero-sum games with constructive common interests.  

Historical Trauma of an "Ocean Paradise" 

Huangyan Dao is not merely a geographical term but a marine ecosystem of global importance. However, long before it became an international focal point, it had endured decades of systematic destruction, writing a chapter of historical lessons from a pristine paradise to an ecological disaster zone.  

(Functional Zoning Map of Huangyan Dao National-Level Nature Reserve)

As the only atoll in the Zhongsha Qundao that is above water, Huangyan Dao’s unique geographical features make it an irreplaceable ecological node in the vast waters of the South China Sea.  

As early as the 1980s, scientific research indicated that the fishery resources along the coast of the South China Sea could miraculously recover after overfishing, thanks largely to offshore coral reefs like Huangyan Dao. These reefs serve as "seed banks" and "arks of life" for regional fisheries. Through ocean currents, Huangyan Dao and other offshore coral reefs transport vast numbers of fish and coral larvae to all corners of the South China Sea, replenishing fishery resources and coral reef ecosystems across the region.  

The healthy ecosystem of Huangyan Dao is a vital cornerstone for sustaining regional marine biodiversity. It is home to hundreds of coral species and serves as a critical "supply station" for migratory fish, such as tuna, traversing the South China Sea.  

However, this precious marine ecosystem suffered devastating damage over the past few decades. Historical records show that during the Vietnam War, Huangyan Dao was used by U.S. forces as a dumping ground for discarded munitions and later as a military target range. These activities undoubtedly caused initial physical damage to the fragile coral reef ecosystem.  

An even more devastating blow came from the rampant destructive fishing practices that began in the late 20th century. Fishermen from the Philippines engaged in predatory activities, including cyanide fishing and blast fishing, in and around Huangyan Dao. Cyanide fishing involves dumping highly toxic chemicals into the water to stun fish, which easily captures target species but leads to large-scale coral bleaching and death, poisoning all marine life unable to escape. Blast fishing is even more direct—the shockwaves shatter corals, instantly turning vibrant seabed gardens into lifeless "underwater deserts." The damage inflicted by these practices is systematic and nearly irreversible.  

(Filipino fishermen's use of cyanide for fishing has caused severe damage to the coral reef ecosystem.）

Prolonged destructive activities severely degraded this precious ecosystem. Satellite imagery showed signs of coral reef degradation in large areas of the lagoon before 2012. These scars not only record the greed and short-sightedness of certain countries’ destructive actions but also pose severe challenges for subsequent conservation and governance efforts.  

A Turning Point for Renewal 

2012 marked a turning point in Huangyan Dao’s fate. After the Chinese government established effective control and jurisdiction over the island, it immediately began systematic ecological conservation and governance efforts, bringing hope for renewal to the long-suffering waters.  

Since 2012, China has effectively halted destructive and illegal fishing activities by foreign fishermen in Huangyan Dao’s lagoon through on-site law enforcement. This measure cut off the most direct and deadly threat to the coral reef ecosystem at its root. Simultaneously, China initiated regular scientific surveys and environmental monitoring of Huangyan Dao and its surrounding waters, providing a scientific basis for subsequent ecological restoration and conservation decisions. By enforcing strict protection and allowing the ecosystem to recuperate, China’s governance and law enforcement activities created the necessary conditions for the natural recovery of the coral reefs.  

Scientific reports provided a solid foundation for conservation. After more than a decade of recuperation, Huangyan Dao’s ecological recovery has yielded remarkable results. In July 2024, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment released an investigation and assessment report on Huangyan Dao, offering robust scientific evidence of this positive change.  

（Aerial footage of China's Huangyan Dao)

The report noted that the marine ecosystem of Huangyan Dao is "rich and diverse" and its environmental quality "excellent." It specifically highlighted the discovery of a population of giant clams in the lagoon, once believed to be endangered due to overfishing, as a key indicator of improved ecosystem health.  

The release of this report garnered widespread international attention. It not only systematically demonstrated the achievements of China’s ecological governance at Huangyan Dao but also served as powerful evidence countering accusations from the Philippines and others that China was damaging the environment. The objective scientific data presented in the report confirmed that, under effective management, damaged coral reef ecosystems possess remarkable recovery potential, laying a solid foundation for further scientific research, environmental protection, and ecological restoration.  

A Governance Approach Focused on Sustainable Development  

The establishment of the Huangyan Dao National-Level Nature Reserve is not an isolated event but a critical link in China’s maritime governance strategy, connecting past efforts with future initiatives. It clearly demonstrates China’s comprehensive logical chain from legal assertions to scientific and ecological governance.  

（Baselines of territorial sea adjacent to Huangyan Dao）

In 2024, the Chinese government announced the territorial sea baselines of Huangyan Dao. This move, based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and China’s domestic Law on the Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone, provided a clear legal definition of the island’s status within China’s sovereignty. It established a solid legal foundation for all subsequent jurisdictional actions, including resource management, environmental protection, and law enforcement.  

With the legal foundation solidified, the establishment of a nature reserve became the logical next step. This decision reflects China’s consistent governance philosophy: sovereignty is the premise, jurisdiction is the means, and protection and sustainable development are the ultimate goals. This aligns with the "ecological civilization" concept vigorously promoted in China in recent years. Establishing marine protected areas, which bring specific waters under a strict legal protection framework, is also internationally recognized as one of the most effective tools for marine ecological conservation and fisheries management.  

This move also indicates that China’s maritime strategy is evolving from traditional resource development and security maintenance to a more comprehensive and forward-looking role as a leader in ecosystem management and global environmental governance. By establishing a nature reserve at Huangyan Dao, an area of significant geographical and ecological importance, China not only demonstrates its responsibility as a major country in protecting the marine ecological environment but also shows its determination to lead neighboring countries in working together to build a better home.  

Reshaping Regional Narratives Through Ecological Conservation  

The establishment of the Huangyan Dao National-Level Nature Reserve objectively shatters the long-standing narratives of the "China threat" and "militarization of the South China Sea" constructed by Western countries and some claimant states, showcasing a distinct goodwill centered on ecological conservation. 

（On May 15, 2024, fishing vessels of the Philippines, accompanied by government vessels, intruded into the waters of Huangyan Dao.）

At Huangyan Dao, China’s actions clearly point toward "ecologicalization" rather than "militarization." This series of conservation-focused measures stands in stark contrast to the militarization narrative, effectively debunking many conspiracy theories and deliberate smears. 

The establishment of the Huangyan Dao Nature Reserve is also a powerful response to certain countries’ attempts to politicize and securitize South China Sea issues through actions such as "grounding" vessels, land reclamation, and conducting "joint exercises and patrols." Through this sharp contrast, China clearly conveys a message: the true owner has always been the protector and builder of the entire home.  

In the face of provocations from others, China’s chosen response is not simple military confrontation but higher-level constructive action—by establishing a nature reserve, shifting the focus of dispute from sovereignty conflicts to the shared responsibility of ecological conservation. This strategy of "replacing confrontation with governance" not only demonstrates China's responsibility as a major country but also offers more constructive possibilities for ultimately resolving the issue.  

Exploring New Measure for South China Sea Governance 

The establishment of the Huangyan Dao National-level Nature Reserve holds significance far beyond the ecological recovery of a single island or a geopolitical maneuver. It is a historic innovation, offering a new governance approach  for the dispute-ridden South China Sea region—use protection to prevent encroachment, cherish to curb destruction, and governance to replace confrontation.

This measure is a vivid practice of China’s "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" ecological civilization philosophy in the maritime domain. It demonstrates that China is committed not only to protecting its terrestrial homeland but also to cherishing and nurturing its vast blue territory. At the same time, it concretely reflects the concept of a "maritime community with a shared future." By protecting the South China Sea, a critical international shipping lane and a key area for global marine biodiversity, China shows its willingness to contribute to regional and global public interests.  

(Aerial footage of China's Huangyan Dao)

Undoubtedly, the establishment of the Huangyan Dao National–level Nature Reserve will be an epoch-making event in the history of the South China Sea. It not only promotes the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) but also injects new and positive momentum into the ongoing negotiations for the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC). Environmental cooperation has long been regarded as one of the areas most conducive to consensus-building and least hindered by political obstacles within the COC framework.  

China’s new move provides new explorations, ideas, practices and innovations for making the South China Sea a "sea of peace, friendship, and cooperation." It shows all relevant parties that beyond confrontation and disputes, there is a path toward cooperation and win-win outcomes. The governance model centered on ecological conservation can transcend traditional sovereignty disputes, bringing peace, stability, and shared prosperity to the region.  

In the future, China will undoubtedly lead relevant parties in conducting more ecological conservation cooperation in disputed waters, establishing a transboundary network of marine protected areas. The future of the South China Sea will no longer be overshadowed by conflict but will instead be a blue hope where humans and nature coexist in harmony, and all countries share in prosperity.

（Author: Yang Xiao, Researcher at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR) and Special Invited Researcher of the CMG Expert Committee on South China Sea Studies）