By James Borton
The Philippines is intensifying efforts to assert its sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc) by leveraging environmental degradation as a legal and diplomatic strategy. This move comes in response to extensive Chinese activities in the area, confirmed by satellite imagery from Stanford University’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation program, Sealight and Tcarta shown in a May 6 webinar “Scarborough Shoal: Facing Facts and Exploring Options.”
Scarborough Shoal, located within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), has long been a flashpoint in the South China Sea dispute. Despite a landmark 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that invalidated China’s expansive maritime claims, Beijing has continued its assertive presence and activities in the region.
Over the past year, satellite images have documented increased Chinese operations in and around the shoal, including the installation of floating barriers and illegal harvesting of marine life such as giant clams. These activities have caused significant coral reef destruction and marine biodiversity loss, prompting the Philippine government to explore new avenues for international support.
One emerging strategy is the use of soft power through environmental conservation. Philippine officials are considering designating Scarborough Shoal as a National Marine Protected Area (MPA). Such a move would not only underscore the Philippines’ commitment to international environmental obligations but also reinforce its legal claims under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), found in Article 123, which emphasizes the duty of coastal states to protect marine ecosystems.
As a presenter in the program, I emphasized that ignoring the ecological toll is a dangerous gamble. The claimant nations circling the South China Sea may be locked in dispute, but they are also bound by biology. A shared sea means a shared fate—and only through collective stewardship can its collapse be avoided.
The Philippines, recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot, boasts a network of over 1,500 marine protected areas. Marine sanctuaries—often called “blue parks”—are essential for protecting biodiversity, sustaining fisheries, and shielding coastal communities from environmental threats. In this context, it is not just timely but critically urgent for the Philippines to shift the narrative surrounding the Scarborough Shoal—from a symbol of geopolitical conflict to a model of ecological cooperation.
Legal scholars and environmental advocates argue that leadership in marine conservation could elevate the Philippines’ global standing and draw broader international backing. “By taking the moral and legal high ground through marine protection, we signal to the world that we are the responsible stewards of this ecosystem,” said an official from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio, a long-time advocate for Philippine maritime rights, reiterated the strength of using both legal and environmental frameworks to counter China’s occupation. “We challenge China. Let’s go to an arbitral tribunal. Let the tribunal decide who has sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal,” Carpio stated in a recent public interview. He emphasized that environmental violations—such as the poaching of endangered marine species—further damage China’s already tenuous legal footing.
In parallel, the Philippine Coast Guard has released evidence of these illegal activities, including video documentation of endangered species extraction. The government has proposed inviting international environmental organizations to conduct an independent audit of the shoal’s ecosystem.
Although not a participant in the program, former Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Andres Centino has previously emphasized the significance of strategic non-military measures in conflict resolution. He stated, “Environmental stewardship, backed by law and science, is a powerful front in a conflict where guns have no place.” This perspective aligns with the Philippines’ broader strategy for addressing environmental security challenges in contested areas such as Scarborough Shoal. As tensions persist over maritime claims in the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine government has increasingly adopted a multi-pronged approach that includes legal, diplomatic, and environmental initiatives.
One critical component of this strategy involves the use of marine scientific research, environmental monitoring, and the establishment of marine protected areas (MPAs) to assert sovereign rights and promote sustainable resource management. By reinforcing the ecological significance of Scarborough Shoal and surrounding waters, the Philippines aims to strengthen its position through internationally recognized principles of environmental protection and maritime law, particularly under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
This non-military approach not only supports national security goals but also builds international support by framing the issue within the context of ecological preservation and responsible stewardship of global commons.
As diplomatic tensions rise, the Philippines’ pivot toward environmental diplomacy could prove to be both a legal asset and a soft power win—framing the nation not just as a claimant, but as a protector of the shared global commons.
James Borton is the Editor-in-Chief of the South China Sea NewsWire and also the author of the soon-to-be-released book, Harvesting the Waves: How Blue Parks Shape Policy, Politics, and Peacebuilding in the South China Sea.
