(11 Sep 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Manila, Philippines – 11 September 2025
1. Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Angelica Escalona walking to podium
2. Spokesperson Escalona
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Angelica Escalona, Spokesperson, Department of Foreign Affairs:
”The Philippines strongly protests the recent approval by the State Council of China of the establishment of the so-called ‘Huangyan Island National Nature Reserve’. Bajo de Masinloc is a longstanding and integral part of the Philippines over which it has sovereignty and jurisdiction. The Philippines likewise has the exclusive authority to establish environmental protection areas over its territory and relevant maritime zones.”
4. Wide of Escalona
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Angelica Escalona, Spokesperson, Department of Foreign Affairs:
”The Philippines will be issuing a formal diplomatic protest against this illegitimate and unlawful action by China as it clearly infringes upon the rights and interests of the Philippines in accordance with international law.”
6. Department of Foreign affairs seal
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Angelica Escalona, Spokesperson, Department of Foreign Affairs:
”The Philippines urges China to respect the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the Philippines over Bajo de Masinloc, refrain from enforcing and immediately withdraw its State Council issuance, and comply with its obligations under international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the final and binding 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, and the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.”
8. Escalona leaving
STORYLINE:
The Philippines protested a plan Thursday by China to establish a nature reserve at one of the most hotly disputed shoals in the South China Sea and demanded that Beijing immediately withdraw it.
China’s State Council on Wednesday announced the approval of a plan to create a national nature reserve at the Scarborough Shoal.
The Scarborough Shoal is one of many South China Sea islands, islets and reefs that are claimed by China and its neighbors, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.
The Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila said a diplomatic protest was underway.
“The Philippines urges China to respect the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the Philippines over Bajo de Masinloc, refrain from enforcing and immediately withdraw its State Council issuance and comply with its obligations under international law,” said Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Angelica Escalona.
The Philippines has declared that any Chinese construction at Scarborough, which Beijing, Manila and Taiwan all claim, would be a red line.
The Scarborough Shoal has been the scene of frequent showdowns between Chinese and Philippine vessels in recent years, as both try to enforce their claims to the territory. A Chinese navy ship accidentally collided with a Chinese coast guard ship last month while trying to block a Philippine coast guard vessel near Scarborough Shoal.
The United States has no claims in the disputed waters but has repeatedly warned that it’s obligated to defend the Philippines, a longtime treaty ally, if Filipino forces, ships or aircraft come under armed attack, including in the South China Sea.
AP Video by Joeal Calupitan
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