Marine reserves as sovereignty tools

A Chinese maritime strategist proposes declaring a nature reserve around Scarborough Shoal to bolster Beijing’s claim in the South China Sea. Environmental protection would double as a governance footprint—rules, patrols, and monitoring—strengthening effective control without overt escalation. — It highlights how conservation policy can be weaponized as 'lawfare' to harden territorial claims, reshaping playbooks for gray‑zone competition at sea.