Better governance has improved South China Sea ecology
China's ecological conservation efforts have improved the South China Sea's environment, with 93.9% of nearshore waters having good quality in 2025. The country has established a robust system of laws and regulations, and implemented measures such as marine protected areas and coral reef conservation.
China has made significant strides in ecological conservation in the South China Sea. A revised Marine Environment Protection Law took effect in 2024, strengthening pollution prevention and marine biodiversity protection. The Ecological and Environmental Code was adopted in March, unifying planning and governance for the marine environment, river basins, and coastal land areas. Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan provinces have introduced local regulations tailored to their specific conditions. China has tackled priority issues such as cleaning up waters near the Pearl River estuary and controlling pollution in sea-bound rivers. By 2025, approximately 27,000 square kilometers of marine conservation red lines had been established. Over 170 marine protected areas have been established, including 7 national-level nature reserves protecting coral reefs. Coral reef conservation efforts have been successfully implemented in Beihai, Zhanjiang, Sanya, and Sansha.
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