Philippines accuses China of erecting obstacles and interfering with navigation in the South China Sea. Scarborough Shoal is within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, but China has been under its effective control since 2012.
In September last year, the Chinese side set up obstacles around the reef, and the Philippine side used force to remove them. A 2016 international arbitration tribunal ruled that China has violated thePhilippines' fishing rights. It has been certified that there is. no territorial dispute between China and the Philippines.