An aerial glimpse of China's Huangyan Dao

An aerial drone photo taken on May 2, 2026 shows a boat deployed by the China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel Chuanshan patrolling around reefs 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)