Philippine fishermen say China drivesfishermen say China drives them away from disputed Scarborough Shoal after decade
Ten years after a landmark UN ruling against China's claims in the South China Sea, Filipino fishermen in Masinloc remain too afraid to fish at Scarborough Shoal due to fears of harassment by Chinese vessels.
The landmark 2016 award found China's 'nine-dash line' claims illegal, yet local fishers say they are driven away from the shoal's prized waters, highlighting the gap between legal victory and practical reality.
Philippine Fishermen
Philippine fishermen report that despite the 2016 UN ruling against China, they remain too afraid to fish near Scarborough Shoal due to fears of harassment by Chinese Coast Guard vessels, which they view as ongoing aggression infringing on their constitutional rights.
Chinese Perspective
China maintains that its operations in the South China Sea are legitimate patrols to protect its sovereignty and maritime interests, rejecting the 2016 arbitration ruling as invalid and stating that its vessels are not harassing but rather safeguarding the area.
- The 1898 Treaty of Paris between the US and Spain defined the Philippines' territory, which includes Scarborough Shoal, but China argues it was not part of that cession.
- Scarborough Shoal is named after a British ship that compiled sea charts in the 18th century, not the Chinese or Filipino navies.
- The 2016 arbitration case was brought by the Philippines under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which China has refused to participate in for similar disputes.
