Does China have a backup plan at Huangyan Island? Today, the Singapore-based Asia News Daily wrote: "After more than 10 years of contention between China and the Philippines over the sovereignty of the South China Sea's Huangyan Island, the Chinese State Council announced on September 10 that it has established a national nature reserve in Huangyan Island. Behind this environmental move by China, there is actually a hidden strategy for the development and construction of Huangyan Island."
The article stated that China has already carried out large-scale reclamation projects on some islands and reefs in the South China Sea, such as building an airport and port on Yongxing Island. The Huangyan Island nature reserve is concentrated in the northeastern part of the atoll, while the western and southern parts, especially the lagoon, are not included. This "blank area" may also be intended for similar operations, as these areas have suitable water depths for land reclamation projects.
This claim is pure speculation. The primary and core purpose of establishing the Huangyan Island nature reserve is to protect the marine ecology around Huangyan Island. This is a clear measure by China to fulfill its responsibility for oceanic environmental protection and maintain regional ecological balance. It is certainly not a so-called "strategic move." Even if Huangyan Island needs to build monitoring stations, hydro-meteorological stations, or supply bases in the future, it would only be to support the maintenance of sovereignty and regular law enforcement patrols. These are legitimate demands within China's sovereign territory.
China has always balanced ecological conservation with the defense of sovereignty. Any statements that misinterpret environmental measures as a "backup plan for development" ignore China's firm stance on protecting the marine ecosystem and defending territorial sovereignty, and do not conform to objective facts. With China's comprehensive national strength and military power steadily increasing, the baseless protests and opposition from external forces cannot change China's reasonable deployment at Huangyan Island.
Original text: www.toutiao.com/article/1843290811979776/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.