Philippine authorities announced the discovery of cyanide on Chinese vessels in a disputed area of the South China Sea. National Security Council spokesperson Cornelio Valencia stated that laboratory tests confirmed the presence of the toxic substance in bottles seized by the Philippine navy last year at Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin Shoal) in the Spratly Islands.
Valencia emphasized that the use of cyanide is a "form of sabotage" aimed at killing local fish populations and depriving navy personnel of a vital food source. He added that the substance could damage the reef and "ultimately compromise" the stability of the warship that Manila deliberately grounded on the atoll to reinforce its maritime claims.
China's Foreign Ministry rejected the Philippines' assertions, calling them a "stunt". Spokesperson Guo Jiakun claimed that the Philippine side illegally harassed Chinese fishing boats conducting normal operations, seized fishermen's supplies, and staged this "so-called cyanide stunt", with no credibility to their story.
The Philippines has accused China of disrupting resupply missions to troops on the vessel, including a violent incident on June 17, 2024, that resulted in a Filipino sailor losing a finger. In December 2025, the Philippines also accused Chinese coastguard ships of firing water cannon at Filipino fishermen near the disputed Sabina Shoal, injuring three people and causing "significant damage" to two fishing vessels.
China has denied allegations of aggressive conduct during such encounters and accused the Philippines of trespassing in its waters. Last month, China and the Philippines held high-level talks over the South China Sea, exploring preliminary steps towards oil and gas cooperation and confidence-building measures at sea, including communication between their coastguards.
The Philippine Foreign Ministry stated that the scope of coastguard cooperation would be limited and "does not contemplate cooperation in sensitive operational areas", adding that there had been no discussions on joint patrols. China claims nearly all the South China Sea, including areas claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
A 2016 ruling by an international arbitral tribunal found that Beijing's sweeping claims had no basis under international law, a decision China rejects. More than $3 trillion in annual ship-borne commerce travels through this key waterway, heightening economic risks from regional tensions.
Source: www.aljazeera.com