Key facts
- Philippine fishermen have reported being expelled from the Scarborough Shoal by Chinese vessels.
- This expulsion occurred despite a 2016 international ruling that favored the Philippines' claims in the South China Sea.
- China's state-controlled media, including People's Daily, has intensified its campaign against the Philippines' position.
- The Philippines' lead lawyer acknowledged that China's actions have diminished the ruling's practical effect, though not its legal standing.
Philippine fishermen have reported being forced away from the Scarborough Shoal by Chinese vessels, despite a 2016 international ruling that affirmed the Philippines' rights in the disputed South China Sea waters. The practical impact of this ruling has been weakened by Beijing's actions, according to the Philippines' lead lawyer.