Ten years after the Philippines' victory, China continues to push back the Scarborough fishermen

Ten years after a landmark ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration invalidating Beijing's maritime claims in the South China Sea, Filipino fishermen say they still cannot freely access Scarborough Shoal. They denounce increasing harassment by Chinese vessels, which they say prevents them from fishing in one of the richest fishing grounds in the region.

Located off the coast of the Philippine province of Zambales, Scarborough Shoal has been under de facto Chinese control since 2012. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that Beijing's extensive territorial claims in the South China Sea had no legal basis under international law. However, the ruling did not address the question of sovereignty over the shoal itself.

The court also ruled that the waters surrounding the reef, known as Huangyan Dao in China, constituted a traditional fishing area used by several countries, including the Philippines, China, and Vietnam. This decision strengthened Manila's diplomatic position and garnered it increased support from the international community.

On the ground, however, fishermen in the coastal town of Masinloc say their daily lives have hardly changed. Many explain that they used to go out to the reef at night or at times when Chinese patrols seemed absent. Now, they say they have given up these outings, believing that Chinese vessels have intensified their operations to systematically repel them.

These accounts illustrate the contrast between the legal victory won by the Philippines in 2016 and the reality at sea, where China continues to exercise effective control over this highly strategic area. Tensions in the South China Sea thus remain a major source of friction between Beijing and several neighboring countries, despite rulings by international courts.