Local fishermen from the coastal town of Masinloc, Philippines, are being driven away from Scarborough Shoal by Chinese vessels, despite a 2016 international tribunal ruling that upheld their right to fish in the area.
Background
The shoal, also known as Huangyan Dao, has been under China’s de facto control since 2012. The tribunal’s decision stated that China’s sweeping maritime claims had no basis under law, but it did not rule on which country had sovereignty over the shoal.
Many Filipino fishermen used to fish in the area, but now they are too afraid to venture out due to harassment by Chinese vessels. Rony Drio, a 59-year-old fisherman, has not been to the area since 2024, while fellow fisherman Henrilito Empoc, 47, has not been there since 2022.
Harassment by Chinese Vessels
Empoc recalled that Chinese vessels have used water cannons against Filipino fishing boats, and Chinese personnel have cut their anchor lines to drive them away. Drio said that Chinese personnel ordered him and another fisherman to leave the shoal’s lagoon, forcing them to carry their boat across sharp coral.
China’s embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the actions alleged by Filipino fishermen. Beijing has long insisted that it does not recognize the tribunal’s decision and that it has “indisputable sovereignty over Huangyan Island and its adjacent waters.”
The international tribunal’s decision has strengthened the Philippines’ legal position and underpinned a “transparency initiative” of publicizing confrontations at sea. It has also helped deepen defense cooperation with allies and led to expanded military and maritime activities with the United States, Japan, and Australia.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
