Despite a 2016 international tribunal ruling invalidating China's expansive claims in the South China Sea, Filipino fishermen continue to face harassment and are increasingly afraid to fish in Scarborough Shoal's traditional waters resigned to coastal fishing instead.
Ten years after the landmark 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which declared China’s broad claims in the South China Sea legally baseless, Filipino fishermen from Masinloc, Zambales, report being effectively barred from fishing in Scarborough Shoal (Huangyan Dao). Although the ruling affirmed that the waters are traditional fishing grounds shared by multiple nations, there was no sovereignty verdict on the shoal itself. Since 2012, China has maintained de facto control of the area and has increased its efforts to prevent Filipino fishing boats from accessing these waters, using tactics such as water cannons and cutting anchor lines.
Fishermen like Rony Drio and Henrilito Empoc have not accessed the shoal for years due to fears of harassment and incidents involving physical intimidation by Chinese personnel. Empoc recalls that after the 2016 ruling, fishermen hoped to regain freedom and improve livelihoods, but instead have been pushed to fish closer to shore.
Chinese authorities have neither officially responded to these allegations nor recognized the tribunal ruling, reiterating their
Sources referenced:
- https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/994517/philippine-fishermen-struggle-china-scarborough-shoal-wps/story/
- https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/a-decade-after-historic-ruling-philippine-fishermen-say-driven-away-2026-07-11/