The intense rift between the Philippines and China over the Scarborough Shoal has made headlines all over the world. Both countries claim that the large coral island which measure about 10 miles in width is part of their respective territories. However, in July 2016, the Philippines won its arbitration case against China in the International Criminal Court (ICC). In November 2016, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared Scarborough Shoal as a Marine Sanctuary because of the vast array of natural resources that can be found here.
The Scarborough Shoal can be found more than 124 nautical miles west of Luzon island. It has a triangular geography. The reef has a lagoon with a depth estimated at 9 to 13 meters. Amidst its scattered rocks and submerged reef, the ‘South Rock’ is the highest land elevation.
Now known as Bajo de Masinloc, Scarborough Shoal is one of the country’s first and oldest territories where fisherfolks yield their harvest, dating back to when the Philippines was declared as an independent nation. During the country’s Commonwealth Period, Scarborough Shoal was recognized among the natural resources for its vast array of fishing banks.
According to the Institute for Maritime and Ocean Affairs (IMOA), Bajo de Masinloc maintains a strong and relevant contribution to in ensuring the sustainability of marine biodiversity not only within the West Philippine Sea, but in the entire South China Sea as well. Through the years, it has become the subject for various studies and researches conducted by local and international universities. With the development of technology, the importance and potential of the Scarborough Shoal as a marine shelter become recognized and appreciated. ,
However,Rappler reported that since the Chinese government made Scarborough Shoal as a reclamation area, it has already damaged more than 300 acres of marine and coral reefs. This costs around $ 100 M. It is also feared that a marine ecosystem has been destroyed. However, the Chinese government denied these accusations. With the rising effect of climate change against marine biodiversity, resources located here may be affected by ocean acidification as well.
