An aerial glimpse of China's Huangyan Dao

An aerial drone photo taken on April 24, 2026 shows a boat deployed by the China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel Chuanshan patrolling near a reef in the territorial waters of China's Huangyan Dao in the South China Sea. Huangyan Dao is located in the Zhongsha Islands and represents a typical coral atoll. China announced in September 2025 its approval to establish the Huangyan Dao National Nature Reserve in a necessary measure to protect its coral reef ecosystem. The CCG has carried out regular patrol and law enforcement to safeguard the ecological environment in the waters of the reserve. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)