00:00The Philippines says it strongly protests China's plan to establish a nature reserve at the Scarborough Shoal in the long-disputed South China Sea.
00:09China has approved the plan yesterday, a move Manila says clearly infringes on its rights and interests.
00:17Sovereignty over the Scarborough Shoal has never been established, but it has been occupied by China since 2012.
00:23A 2016 international court ruling said China's blockade of the shoal violated international law and that the area was a traditional fishing ground for several countries, including the Philippines and Vietnam.
00:35However, China rejected this claim.
00:38The Scarborough Shoal is priced for rich fisheries, its protective lagoon and proximity to major shipping lanes.
00:44Tensions have escalated recently between Chinese and Philippine vessels, with frequent clashes in the area as both sides try to enforce their claims to the territory.
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