Washington, Aug. 8 -- The United States on Saturday (local time) "rejected" China's move to establish what it called a "national nature reserve" at Scarborough Reef, saying the measure could restrict Filipino fishermen's access to their traditional fishing grounds.

In a press release, the US Department of State said, "The United States rejects China's ongoing attempts to enforce its destabilising "national nature reserve" at Scarborough Reef and deny Filipino fishermen access to their traditional fishing ground as reflected in the 2016 Arbitral Award. This is yet another unilateral attempt by China to use dubious environmental and legal pretexts, backed by coercion, to advance its sweeping territorial and maritime claims in the South Chi...