Filipino fishermen are now be able to fish in the disputed Scarborough Shoal without being intercepted by Chinese Coast Guard vessels more than four years after the Chinese gained control of the area, Malacañang said Friday. In a television interview, Kabayan partylist Rep. Harry Roque, who was part of the President’s delegation to China during his state visit there, said the two governments had already reached an agreement on fishing rights in the disputed shoal, but have yet to sign the actual document. Roque said that China wanted the Philippines to agree to a formal declaration that Beijing was “allowing” Filipino fishermen to return to Scarborough Shoal, but Manila did not agree because the proposal would go against the ruling of an international tribunal that the common fishing ground did not belong to any one state.

Bencito, J. P., & Araneta, S. (2016, October 29). Pinoys now free to fish in Scarborough—Palace . Manila Standard, pp. A1, A2.