Despite it being within the Philippines' 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), Scarborough Shoal seems to be under the control of China, at least according to one of the fishermen whose catch were seized by Chinese Coast Guard last May. "Sa tingin ko Tsina pa rin [ang may kontrol] pero dahil sa magandang ano ng Pilipinas at China ngayon, pinapayagan tayo [mangisda doon]. Yung patuloy na pagkakaibigan ng China at Pilipinas, pinapayagan ang Pilipino na mangisda diyan," Rommel Sihuela said in a press briefing in Malacañang on Monday. He then urged the government to ask China to limit its control over the shoal.

China has control of Scarborough, fisher says. (2018, June 12). The Daily Guardian, pp. 3, 14.