Geo-Strategic Trend - 20. page

On September 10, China announced that the State Council had approved the establishment of the Huangyan Island National Nature Reserve in Sansha City, Hainan Province. The reserve, covering 3,523 hectares, is intended to protect coral reef ecosystems. The area lies in the disputed South China Sea region of Scarborough Shoal (known as Huangyan Island in China and Panatag Shoal in the Philippines).

The Philippines condemned the move, claiming it is a pretext for China to assert control over Scarborough Shoal. On September 11, Manila issued a statement “strongly protesting” the reserve, reiterating its sovereignty over the area and exclusive rights to establish environmental protections there.

On the same day, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian reiterated that Huangyan Island is China’s inherent territory and that the creation of the reserve falls within China’s sovereign rights. He dismissed Manila’s accusations and urged the Philippines to cease provocative actions.

Source: VOA, September 12, 2025
https://www.voachinese.com/a/philippines-strongly-protests-china-s-plan-to-establish-a-nature-reserve-in-disputed-waters-of-the-south-china-sea-20250911/8064969.html

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung condemned anti-Chinese demonstrations in Seoul’s Myeongdong district during a cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Yongsan on September 8, characterizing such gatherings as disruptive behavior that exceeds the boundaries of free speech.

President Lee expressed concern over recent discriminatory rallies targeting tourists from specific countries, which he said were deliberately undermining bilateral relations. He requested response measures from relevant government departments regarding these demonstrations.

Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung reported that authorities have strengthened security around diplomatic facilities and issued warnings to protest organizers. In response, President Lee directed government agencies to actively consider implementing sanctions against those involved.

The anti-Chinese demonstrations have been organized by far-right groups near the Chinese Embassy in Seoul’s Myeongdong area following South Korea’s 21st general election. These protests have created tensions with local businesses in the surrounding commercial district.

The president’s criticism highlights growing diplomatic concerns over the demonstrations, which appear to be straining South Korea’s relationship with China. By calling for potential sanctions and increased security measures, the government is signaling its intention to prevent further escalation of tensions that could damage bilateral ties.

The situation underscores the delicate balance South Korea must maintain in managing domestic political expression while preserving important international relationships in the region.

Source: Yonhap News Agency, September 9, 2025
https://cn.yna.co.kr/view/ACK20250909004200881

Ishii Taira (Chinese name Shi Ping, 石平), born in Sichuan in 1962, joined China’s democracy movement in the early 1980s and graduated from Peking University in 1984. After moving to Japan in 1988, he broke with the Chinese Communist Party following the Tiananmen protests. He became a Japanese citizen in 2007, later served as a visiting professor at Takushoku University, and was elected to Japan’s House of Councilors this year. A vocal critic of Beijing, he has frequently spoken on Taiwan, the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong.

On September 8, 2025, China’s Foreign Ministry announced sanctions against Ishii, accusing him of spreading “fallacies,” and visiting the Yasukuni Shrine. The measures include freezing any assets he holds in China, banning Chinese organizations and individuals from engaging with him, and barring him and his immediate family from entering China, Hong Kong, or Macau.

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi condemned the sanctions as an attempt to intimidate dissenting voices and called on Beijing to withdraw them. Ishii dismissed the move, noting he has no assets in China and no intention of visiting, and described the sanctions as proof that his political activities were “an honor.”

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian defended the countermeasures, calling Ishii a “thorough anti-China element” who aligned with hostile forces after naturalizing in Japan. He said the actions were legal, necessary to safeguard China’s interests, and consistent with international practice, while criticizing Tokyo for failing to restrain its lawmakers and instead “shifting blame” onto China.

Sources:
1. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, September 8, 2025
https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/web/wjbxw_new/202509/t20250908_11704050.shtml
2. Epoch Times, September 9, 2025
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/25/9/9/n14590627.htm
3. Xinhua, September 10, 2025
http://www.news.cn/world/20250910/58e53b9debb347fd94c1772c2f08b2d0/c.html

United Daily News (UDN), a major Taiwanese outlet, reported that the Canadian frigate HMCS Ville de Québec and the Australian destroyer HMAS Brisbane sailed through the Taiwan Strait on September 6.

The vessels traveled north along the eastern side of the Strait’s median line, though their final destination remains unclear. China’s military claimed it was conducting “full surveillance” during the transit and asserted that the situation was “under control.”

The joint Canadian-Australian fleet had departed days earlier from the U.S. naval facility in Subic Bay, Philippines. The Ville de Québec recently joined a trilateral patrol with Philippine and Australian forces in nearby waters, an operation that already drew criticism from Beijing. The Canadian Ministry of National Defense has not confirmed the ship’s passage through the Strait.

Source: UDN, September 6, 2025
https://udn.com/news/story/7331/8987939