Before leaving for China, Duterte announced on several occasions that the issue of fishing at Panatag Shoal would be among the issues he would discuss with his Chinese counterparts. He said he would “ask” the Chinese to “allow” Filipino fishermen back in the shoal. China has denied Filipino fishermen access to the shoal’s rich fishing ground. Fishing rights was part of the case filed by the Philippines before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. The court denied in July China’s claim over most of the South China Sea and its assertion of a 200-mile exclusive economic zone around Spratly islands, an area that is disputed by China, the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam and Malaysia.

Nilles, G., & Mendez, C. (2016, October 23). Rody to fishermen: Just be patient. Philippine Star, pp. 1, 16.