Footage from a Chinese military aircraft offers an aerial view of China's Huangyan Dao in the South China Sea. Seen from above, the island features clear waters, coral reefs and a lagoon surrounded by reef flats, forming a striking seascape in the blue waters of the South China Sea.

China approved the establishment of the Huangyan Dao National Nature Reserve in September 2025 to protect its coral reef ecosystem. Chinese authorities have maintained patrols around Huangyan Dao to help safeguard the area's ecological environment.