Particle.news
Download on the App Store
12 ARTICLES
·
5h ago

Decade After Hague Ruling, China Keeps Control of Scarborough Shoal and Filipino Fishermen Stay Away

The persistence of on‑the‑water coercion despite the 2016 arbitral award raises the risk of dangerous confrontations and deepens Manila’s reliance on allied security support.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro speaks as they mark the 10th anniversary of a 2016 arbitration ruling which invalidated China's expansive claims in the disputed South China Sea during a conference in Manila, Philippines on Friday, July 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
People pass by an electronic board showing areas of the disputed South China Sea during a conference to mark the 10th anniversary of a 2016 arbitration ruling which invalidated China's expansive claims during a conference in Manila, Philippines on Friday, July 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong speaks in a videotaped message to mark the 10th anniversary of a 2016 arbitration ruling which invalidated China's expansive claims in the disputed South China Sea during a conferene in Manila, Philippines on Friday, July 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Image

Overview

  • Philippine officials and diplomats marked the 10th anniversary of the 2016 UNCLOS arbitral award this week while China continued to reject the ruling and maintain de facto control of Scarborough Shoal.
  • Fishermen from Masinloc say they no longer go to the shoal after repeated encounters with Chinese vessels that they allege used water cannon and cut anchor lines to force them away.
  • Beijing has stepped up a rhetorical and agency campaign disputing the tribunal, with state media calling the award illegitimate and Chinese authorities proposing measures such as a nature reserve and briefly installing a floating barrier at the shoal’s lagoon entrance.
  • The United States and other allies have used the tribunal as the legal basis for renewed maritime cooperation with the Philippines and have pledged to help safeguard navigation and reduce risks of escalation.
  • The 2016 tribunal decision is legally binding under UNCLOS but cannot be enforced by the court, leaving Manila to rely on diplomacy, public reporting of confrontations, and partner support while local livelihoods and safety remain directly affected.