Boat captain Aniceto Achina, 40, and his 12-member crew were taking shelter from strong winds on Scarborough Shoal on July 12, the day an international tribunal ruled against China’s claims in the West Philippine Sea. Achina said the Chinese coast guards patrolling the shoal had not blocked their way, allowing them to seek refuge in the rocky outcrop as huge waves battered their boat. “But the Chinese patrols asked us to leave the following day. They said there was an order from their government to eject us from the shoal,” Achina said on Saturday.

Macatuno, A. (2016, July 19). Subic fishermen heed call to avoid Scarborough Shoal. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A14.