FOCUS: Manila upping resistance to China's control of shoal 10 yrs after ruling

MANILA - Ten years after an international arbitral ruling that found against China's sweeping sovereignty claims in the South China Sea, the Philippines is stepping up efforts to prevent Beijing from solidifying its de-facto control over the Scarborough Shoal, one of the most disputed sites in the sea's waters.

The shoal, which lies within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, is claimed by Manila as well as China and Taiwan, but it has been under Beijing's control since 2012, with incidents of Chinese coast guard and naval vessels blocking or harassing Philippine civilian and government vessels sailing in the area.