Filipino Fishermen Still Barred from Scarborough Shoal Ten Years After Arbitration Victory

Local fishermen from the coastal town of Masinloc, Zambales, have stopped venturing to Scarborough Shoal—known in China as Huangyan Dao—because Chinese vessels repeatedly use water cannons, cut anchor lines and enforce a floating barrier that prevents access. The de-facto Chinese control, established in 2012, continues to keep Filipino boats away from the shoal’s traditionally rich fishing grounds despite the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruling that dismissed Beijing’s “nine-dash line” claims.

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The PCA in The Hague ruled in July 2016 that China’s expansive maritime claims had no basis under international law and affirmed that the waters around Scarborough Shoal are a traditional fishing area shared by the Philippines, China and Vietnam. The tribunal did not decide sovereignty over the feature itself. China has never recognized the decision and maintains that it has “indisputable sovereignty” over Huangyan Island and its adjacent waters.

Philippine Fishermen Say China Still Blocks Scarborough Shoal

• Rony Drio, 59, fisherman who last visited the shoal in 2024.

Philippine Fishermen Say China Still Blocks Scarborough Shoal

• Henrilito Empoc, 47, fisherman whose last trip was in 2022 and now drives a motorised tricycle taxi.

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• Chinese Coast Guard, the agency cited for water-cannon use and anchor-cutting.

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• Philippine Government, which cites the PCA ruling to bolster diplomatic and defence initiatives.

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• Jay Batongbacal, director of the Institute of Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea at the University of the Philippines.

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• China’s Embassy in Manila, which declined comment on the fishermen’s allegations.

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• 2012: China assumes effective control of Scarborough Shoal after a standoff.

Philippine Fishermen Say China Still Blocks Scarborough Shoal

• July 2016: PCA issues its ruling rejecting China’s claims.

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• 2022: Empoc’s last fishing trip to the shoal.

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• 2024: Drio’s last fishing trip; a floating barrier is installed and later removed after Philippine protests.

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• June 2024: A Filipino sailor loses a finger during a violent encounter with the Chinese coast guard at Second Thomas Shoal.

Philippine Fishermen Say China Still Blocks Scarborough Shoal

• 2026: Ongoing reports of barrier removal and proposals for a nature reserve at the shoal.

Philippine Fishermen Say China Still Blocks Scarborough Shoal

The Philippines leverages the PCA decision to publicise confrontations, claim legal legitimacy and deepen defence cooperation with the United States, Japan and Australia. Analysts warn that repeated maritime incidents raise the risk of broader military escalation in the South China Sea. Yet the fishermen’s livelihood remains constrained, highlighting a gap between diplomatic victories and on-the-ground outcomes.

Philippine Fishermen Say China Still Blocks Scarborough Shoal

Philippine officials assert that the 2016 ruling has strengthened Manila’s legal standing and underpins a “transparency initiative” that documents Chinese aggression. They also note that the decision has facilitated expanded joint naval exercises and patrols with allied nations. China’s embassy in Manila did not respond to requests for comment, reiterating Beijing’s stance that it does not recognise the tribunal’s decision and that it possesses “indisputable sovereignty” over the shoal.

The Straits TimesUsNews and World ReportPhilippine Fishermen Say China Still Blocks Scarborough Shoal

Fishermen argue that the legal win has not translated into practical access. Drio and Empoc describe repeated harassment that forces them to fish closer to shore, resulting in smaller catches and reduced incomes. Their testimonies underscore the limited impact of diplomatic measures on local communities.

Philippine Fishermen Say China Still Blocks Scarborough Shoal

The PCA ruling did not address sovereignty, leaving both Manila and Beijing to interpret the decision differently. While Filipino accounts detail water-cannon use and anchor-cutting, independent verification of these specific incidents is absent from the available reports.

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• “They took away our right to fish,” — Henrilito Empoc, Fisherman

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• “The coral hurt our feet, but what hurt more was what they were doing to us,” — Rony Drio, Fisherman

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• “When we heard (in 2016) that we had won, what came to our minds and hearts was the freedom to fish again and the hope of a better livelihood,” — Henrilito Empoc, Fisherman

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• “Without China’s actions, the number of allies and security partners for the Philippines definitely would not have increased,” — Jay Batongbacal, Director, Institute of Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, University of the Philippines

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• “We won in 2016, but it doesn’t feel like a victory to me,” — Rony Drio, Fisherman

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