Philippine fishers report income collapse as Chinese vessels restrict access to Scarborough Shoal

Chinese vessel presence around Scarborough Shoal is increasingly restricting Philippine fishing access, cutting weekly incomes from ~15,000 pesos to a fraction. The report is anecdotal but consistent with a sustained pattern of maritime pressure. It underscores the economic cost of the South China Sea dispute on local livelihoods, adding grassroots pressure on Manila's posture.