Known as Bajo de Masinloc in the Philippines, Scarborough Shoal is considered a traditional fishing ground for generations of Filipino fishermen. Still, Beijing claims historical rights over the shoal despite its proximity to the Philippines, making the maritime feature a potential flashpoint of conflict. The shoal, a U-shaped rocky outcrop, has been under China’s de facto control for 13 years after a monthslong standoff in 2012. The Philippines took China to an international arbitration court in The Hague, which invalidated Beijing’s sweeping claims in a 2016 ruling. Last month, Manila’s foreign ministry formally filed a diplomatic protest against China for its announced plans to create a nature reserve in Scarborough.