Our country has been exercising effective jurisdiction over this area ever since. Now the Chinese wants it. They claim this belongs to the Chinese. The Scarborough shoal is a very rich fishing ground and full of endangered species. Many Chinese fishing vessels were intercepted by our coast guard and others were fishing endangered marine life from these shoals. Now the Chinese government steps in and is claiming the area. The Chinese had been harassing us by flying jet fighters inside Philippine territory, showing their war ships, making threatening comments on radio, hacking Philippine Websites, etc.
China is becoming a super power and I don't know what leverage our country has. A month ago, a shipload of bananas from the Phils to China was dumped in the ocean because they claim they were not good and banned bananas from the Phils. China is our number 1 banana customer. The ban lasted for a few days and they said they will now allow Phil. bananas. This was just a show of their capability and nothing more.
I know this is not a problem of your countries but this is a nice topic, right? Shall we just give in to the Chinese? We don't have war ships or jet fighters.. Shall we call Uncle Sam? ... Again? Will Uncle Sam give a damn?
The shoal is 530 miles from China.
It's 138 miles from the Phils.