appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Laura Zhou

China has identified a rare coral reef blue hole within Scarborough Shoal, a hotly contested feature in the South China Sea that is now a major flashpoint in the region.
A marine blue hole is a deep, circular sinkhole in the ocean and is typically bright turquoise or emerald green.
Unlike most of the world’s known blue holes – which were once caves on land thousands of years ago during the last ice age – the newly discovered marine blue hole within the Scarborough Shoal lagoon was formed by the natural growth of a coral reef, a report published by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment said on Thursday.
Chinese researchers identified a wealth of marine life in and around the blue hole, which dates back at least 3,200 years, according to the report. The discovery is expected to offer fresh insights into the geological evolution and environmental history of the shoal.
The findings come as Beijing is pushing to further solidify its control over the contested waters through a combination of law enforcement patrols and scientific expeditions.
Sitting about 230km (143 miles) off the Philippine coast and about 874km from southern China’s Hainan province, Scarborough Shoal is a triangular-shaped reef formation around a lagoon. It is known as Huangyan Island in China and Panatag Shoal in the Philippines, which also claims the feature.




The dispute over the shoal has intensified over the past month as Manila has accused Beijing of establishing a temporary platform at the lagoon’s entrance, raising fears that Beijing might try to build a permanent structure.
China declared Scarborough Shoal a nature reserve in September last year.


Beijing said at that time that the measure aimed to “preserve the diversity, stability and sustainability of the island’s natural ecosystem”, though critics argued that the move was designed to restrict Philippine vessels from the surrounding waters, which are a traditional fishing ground.
Chinese oceanographers started carrying out scientific research in the waters near the shoal in 2024, the ministry said in the report.
During a coral reef survey in the lagoon in August last year, researchers found what was described as “a distinctive habitat” suspected to be a blue hole.
A series of on-site investigations followed, including underwater exploration by scuba divers and robots, aerial photography by drones and the collection of environmental DNA and sediment samples.
Scientists later concluded that the feature was a blue hole formed by a coral reef, a rare type of blue hole and the first one “explored and verified in China”.
The ministry said future expeditions would focus on how the blue hole was formed, how it evolved and how it functioned today, “aiming to provide crucial scientific backing to strengthen the protection of the South China Sea’s ecosystems and marine biodiversity”.
Because of their unique physical, chemical and geographical traits, blue holes are often described as “time capsules” that scientists can use to study the Earth’s history or find new types of life forms.


In 2016, China announced the discovery of the 300.89-metre (987 feet) deep Dragon Hole in the South China Sea’s disputed Paracel Islands, which are known as Xisha in China but are also claimed by Vietnam.
The Dragon Hole was the deepest known blue hole until 2024, when new measurements revealed that the Taam Ja’ Blue Hole in Mexico’s Chetumal Bay, off the Caribbean Sea, descends past 420 metres.
China later named the Paracels feature the Sansha Yongle Dragon Hole, after the city of Sansha, which was established to administer the country’s claims to the vast South China Sea.
China took control of Scarborough Shoal after an intense stand-off in 2012, prompting the Philippines to file a lawsuit with the Permanent Court of Arbitration, accusing China of violating international law by interfering with fishing and failing to protect the reef from environmental damage.
In 2016, the court ruled largely in the Philippines’ favour, though it did not make any ruling on sovereignty. The court’s jurisdiction and conclusions were rejected by China.


Paraguay’s president urges UN to let Taiwan in, calls island’s exclusion ‘a stain’

Why younger Filipinos are warming to China despite maritime tensions

Why Brunei prefers ‘quiet diplomacy’ over confrontation in South China Sea

Xi and Trump face their greatest challenge yet: building US-China trust

South China Sea

China discovers rare coral reef blue hole in disputed Scarborough Shoal

Unlike most of the world’s blue holes – which were once caves on land – the newly discovered blue hole within the Scarborough Shoal was formed by a coral reef. Photo: Ministry of Ecology and Environment

China and Philippines have a rare naval stand-off near disputed Scarborough Shoal

The Philippine Navy’s guided-missile frigate BRP Diego Silang encountered four Chinese warships near Scarborough Shoal on Saturday, according to Philippine media. Photo: GMA Network

Philippines vows to block structures at Scarborough Shoal amid fears of Chinese expansion

A ship identified by the Philippine Coast Guard as Chinese maritime militia is seen near Scarborough Shoal in the disputed South China Sea on Monday. Photo: AFP

A structure, which the Philippine Coast Guard said was likely deployed by Chinese research vessels, floats at the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, on June 10. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard/Handout via Reuters

A ship identified by the Philippine Coast Guard as a Chinese research vessel (right) is seen at Scarborough Shoal in the disputed South China Sea on Monday. Photo: AFP

An antenna claimed by the Philippine Coast Guard to have been installed by a Chinese research vessel is seen at Scarborough Shoal in the disputed South China Sea on Monday. Photo: AFP

Mystery platform? China says it was carrying out research at Scarborough Shoal

A Chinese research institute says it deployed a floating platform at Scarborough Shoal for environmental monitoring and sampling. Photo: Handout via Reuters

Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela (second from right) during a press briefing on Wednesday. Photo: EPA

Chinese coastguard reveals growing reliance on drones at Scarborough Shoal

Qiu Canhui operates a drone aboard the Chinese coastguard vessel Wanshan near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea on February 11. Photo: Xinhua

China’s presence at Scarborough Shoal in South China Sea ‘unprecedented’ in 2025: report

A China Coast Guard ship patrols the waters near Scarborough Shoal, which Beijing claims and calls Huangyan, in the South China Sea on November 14, 2025. Photo: Xinhua

News

China

Diplomacy

Beijing has used law enforcement patrols and scientific study to boost its control over the contested South China Sea area


Beijing has used law enforcement patrols and scientific study to boost its control over the contested South China Sea area.


Mexico

The Philippines

The Netherlands

Paracel Islands

China discovers rare coral reef blue hole in disputed Scarborough Shoal

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Beijing has used law enforcement patrols and scientific study to boost its control over the contested South China Sea area

Beijing has used law enforcement patrols and scientific study to boost its control over the contested South China Sea area