Why in the news?

  • China’s coast guard raised its ag at disputed Scarborough Shoal on National Day, shortly after declaring it a nature reserve.

Scarborough Shoal

  • What is it?: The Scarborough Shoal is an oceanic coral atoll that developed on top of a seamount into a triangle shape in the eastern part of the South China Sea.
  • Fact: It is the largest atoll in the South China Sea.
  • Significance: The deep waters around the shoal make it a productive fishing area, rich in marine life.
  • Dispute: Dispute between the China and the Philippines.