The waters around Scarborough Shoal, a traditional fishing ground shared by the Philippines, China, and Vietnam, remain off-limits to Filipino fishermen nearly a decade after the Philippines won an international arbitration case against China.
Leonardo Cuaresma, a 60-year-old fisherman and head of a fishermen's association in Zambales province, remembers the good days when a trip to Scarborough Shoal guaranteed a full catch. However, Chinese vessels continue to keep Filipino boats away from the shoal, a rich source of marine resources.
Defense economist Rocio Salle Gatdula said the arbitration victory remains legally significant but has produced little practical benefit for fishermen. "The ruling has not improved access for Filipino fishermen to traditional grounds like Scarborough Shoal, with Chinese forces continuing to harass and restrict entry despite the legal invalidation of China's claims," she said.
The Philippines brought China before a United Nations-backed arbitral tribunal in 2013, challenging Beijing's sweeping "nine-dash line" claim over most of the South China Sea. On July 12, 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that China's expansive maritime claims had no legal basis under international law and that Beijing had violated the Philippines' sovereign rights within its exclusive economic zone.
Scarborough Shoal, known locally as Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal, lies about 220 kilometers west of Zambales. The coral atoll has long sustained fishing communities in western Luzon with its abundant marine resources. "Bajo de Masinloc is very important for us because in times of need, we know that there is a place where we can catch fish," Mr. Cuaresma said.
China has maintained effective control over the shoal since a 2012 standoff with Philippine government vessels. Chinese coast guard, navy, and maritime militia ships have since maintained a near-continuous presence around the atoll, regularly driving away Filipino fishermen.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment. China has strengthened its presence around Scarborough despite the arbitral ruling. Chinese coast guard vessels accumulated 933 ship-days around the shoal during the first seven months of 2026, nearly matching the 1,099 ship-days recorded for all of 2025, according to a July report.
The increased patrols have also resulted in more confrontations. Analysts say Manila and Washington should keep a close eye on Scarborough, while the Philippines should continue expanding joint patrols with allies and accelerating the Armed Forces of the Philippines' modernization program.
Experts also recommend investing in maritime infrastructure that strengthens coastal communities and economic activity, such as developing maritime infrastructure in the area and acquiring more offshore patrol vessels, frigates, anti-submarine capabilities, and maritime surveillance radars.
For Mr. Cuaresma, the Philippines should not stop asserting its rights even if Beijing continues to ignore the tribunal's ruling. "It's important to file another case so our neighboring countries and allies will take notice," he said. "It will show that we are not simply giving it away." For fishermen who once relied on Scarborough Shoal for their livelihoods, the 2016 arbitration victory remains more a legal milestone than a practical one.
