The National Forestry and Grassland Administration announced last week that the reserve would safeguard the coral ecosystem around Huangyan Island, better known internationally as Scarborough Shoal. Yet many analysts see the move as less about conservation and more about reinforcing Beijing's territorial claims. Scarborough Shoal, a triangular formation of rocks and reef encircling a fish-rich lagoon, has been at the heart of disputes for decades. Confrontations have become more frequent, with the latest flashpoint occurring in August when two Chinese ships collided while intercepting a Philippine boat. Unlike the Spratly Islands, where China transformed reefs into militarized bases with runways and radar facilities, experts doubt Scarborough Shoal will see such large-scale construction.