Just days after the Philippines and China supposedly reached an agreement in which China would allow Filipinos to return to their own fishing grounds in the West Philippine Sea, a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel drove away a Filipino fishing boat while in the waters of Ayungin Shoal early this month, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). On Saturday, the PCG said it was investigating the incident at the shoal, also called Second Thomas Shoal, located 315 kilometers west of Palawan province and within the country’s 370-km exclusive economic zone.

Cabalza, D., & Lazaro, J. (2023, January 23). Palawan fishermen report continuing Chinese harassment. Panay News, pp. 11, 15.