In News:

The Scarborough Shoal, a triangular atoll in the South China Sea, has once again become a flashpoint after China announced the establishment of a 3,524-hectare nature reserve in the disputed waters. The move has drawn strong protests from the Philippines, which claims sovereignty over the feature and views China’s step as an assertion of jurisdiction under the guise of ecological protection.

Geographical and Strategic Significance

• The shoal is located about 220 km west of the Philippines’ Luzon Island and falls well within Manila’s 200-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
• Claimed by both China (which calls it Huangyan Island) and the Philippines (locally known as Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc), sovereignty over the shoal remains unsettled.
• Its location near major global shipping lanes that carry over $3 trillion worth of trade annually enhances its geostrategic value.
• The lagoon and surrounding waters are rich in fish stocks, shellfish, and sea cucumbers, making it a vital fishing ground for regional communities.

Historical and Legal Context

• China’s claim: Traced back to maps from the Yuan Dynasty (1200s), Beijing argues historical sovereignty.
• Philippines’ claim: Based on proximity, falling within its EEZ, and backed by the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruling under UNCLOS, which invalidated China’s “nine-dash line” claim. The ruling, however, did not adjudicate on sovereignty but recognized the shoal as a traditional fishing ground for multiple nations.
• Control: China seized effective control of the shoal in 2012 after a naval standoff and has since maintained coast guard and fishing militia presence, often intercepting Filipino vessels.

China’s Nature Reserve Plan

• China has approved a marine protected area to conserve the coral reef ecosystem of the shoal.
• Chinese officials argue it reflects improved “jurisdiction and governance” and claim Filipino fishermen are responsible for overfishing and pollution.
• Critics, however, view the reserve as a political instrument to strengthen Chinese control and potentially restrict access to Filipino fishermen under the pretext of conservation.
• The Philippines has accused China of coral destruction and giant clam harvesting, raising the possibility of fresh international arbitration on environmental grounds.

Regional and Global Reactions

• Philippines: Strongly protested the move, viewing it as a violation of its sovereign rights. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has leveraged the issue domestically while deepening ties with the United States.
• United States: Condemned the reserve plan as “destabilising and coercive.” Under the 1951 Mutual Defence Treaty, Washington has pledged to defend the Philippines against armed attacks, including those occurring “anywhere in the South China Sea.”
• Risk of escalation: Recent incidents—such as the use of water cannons, ramming of boats, and close aerial encounters—underline the danger of miscalculation, though both sides avoid direct combat to prevent escalation.
• Expert views: Chinese analysts frame the reserve as ecological protection, while Philippine experts argue it is a strategic tool to consolidate Beijing’s de facto control and marginalize other claimants.

Implications

• For the Philippines:
  • Raises questions about maritime security and economic livelihood of fishermen.
  • Strengthens its reliance on the U.S. alliance for deterrence.
• For China:
  • Enhances its long-term maritime footprint and jurisdictional claims.
  • Risks further international pushback, reinforcing perceptions of coercion.
• For International Order:
  • Challenges the enforcement of UNCLOS and undermines multilateral dispute settlement mechanisms.
  • Escalates tensions in one of the world’s busiest waterways with direct implications for global trade.

In News:

Recently, southern France witnessed its worst wildfire since 1949, scorching nearly 16,000 hectares (39,500+ acres) of forests and villages—an area 1.5 times the size of Paris. Though the blaze has now been contained, firefighters remain deployed to prevent flare-ups and secure the affected zone.

Causes and Challenges

• Climatic Drivers: Officials and France’s Environment Minister attributed the fire’s intensity to climate change, prolonged drought, strong winds, and extremely dry vegetation.
• Geographic Factors: Proximity to the Pyrenees mountains and the Mediterranean coast made the terrain vulnerable to rapid fire spread. Loss of traditional vineyards and land-use changes further accelerated the blaze.
• Future Risks: France’s weather office has warned of fresh heatwaves, increasing wildfire vulnerability across southern Europe.

Geographic Overview of France

• Location: Northern & Eastern Hemispheres; bordered by Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Andorra.
• Water Bodies: Bounded by the Bay of Biscay (west), English Channel (northwest), and Mediterranean Sea (south).
• Major Rivers:Loire (into Atlantic), Seine (into English Channel).
• Mountain Ranges:Alps, Jura, and Pyrenees (natural border with Spain).
• Resources: Coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, uranium, potash, gypsum, etc.
• Overseas Regions: Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Réunion, Martinique, Mayotte.
• Capital: Paris.

In News:

China approved the construction of the world's largest dam, stated to be the planet's biggest infra project, on the Brahmaputra river in Tibet close to the Indian border, raising concerns in India and Bangladesh.

Key highlights:

Overview of the Project:

• Location: Lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River (Tibetan name for Brahmaputra), where the river makes a U-turn in the Himalayan region before flowing into Arunachal Pradesh, India.
• Purpose:
  • To support China’s carbon neutrality goals.
  • To boost industrial growth and create jobs in Tibet.
  • Expected to generate 300 billion kWh of electricity annually, over three times the capacity of the Three Gorges Dam in central China.

Significance:

• Scale: The dam is poised to be the world’s largest hydropower project, surpassing the Three Gorges Dam, and becoming the biggest infrastructure project globally, with an estimated cost of USD 137 billion.
• Engineering Challenges: The site is located in a seismic zone on the Tibetan plateau, prone to earthquakes, making construction and operational stability a major engineering challenge.

Concerns:

• Environmental Impact:
  • Potential disruption to the local ecosystem and biodiversity.
  • Risk of altering the river’s flow and course, which could impact agriculture and water resources downstream, particularly in India and Bangladesh.
• Geopolitical Risks:
  • Water control: India and Bangladesh are concerned about China’s ability to control the water flow, with fears of China manipulating the flow to release excess water during conflicts, causing potential flooding in border areas.
  • The project could also disrupt the hydrological cycle, affecting the region’s water availability, especially in Assam and Bangladesh.

Background:

• The Brahmaputra River is a trans-boundary river, flowing through China, India, and Bangladesh. Known by different names in these countries, it plays a vital role in the livelihoods of millions of people.
• China has already initiated hydropower generation on the upper reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo, with plans for additional projects upstream.

India-China Cooperation:

• China and India have an Expert Level Mechanism (ELM) in place since 2006 to manage trans-boundary river issues, under which China shares hydrological data with India, especially during the flood season.
• India is also constructing its own hydropower projects on the Brahmaputra in Arunachal Pradesh.

Potential Outcomes:

• Energy Generation: The dam could significantly contribute to China’s energy needs, providing a substantial amount of renewable energy.
• Regional Tensions: The dam’s construction may escalate tensions between China, India, and Bangladesh due to the control over water resources and environmental impact concerns.