What is the territorial dispute over Scarborough Shoal and why is it significant?

Scarborough Shoal is a strategic triangular chain of reefs and rocks that China forcibly seized from the Philippines in 2012, located 240 km west of the Philippines' Luzon island and nearly 900 km from China's Hainan island. This disputed area has become a flashpoint for tensions, with recent incidents including a Chinese Navy helicopter flying dangerously close to a Philippine surveillance aircraft. Despite a 2016 international ruling invalidating China's claims to the South China Sea, Beijing continues its aggressive expansion in the region. The shoal has witnessed repeated confrontations as the Philippines attempts to resupply Filipino fishermen in the area, reflecting the ongoing struggle for territorial control in this strategically important maritime region.