WONOSOBO NEWS – The Philippines accused China of using cyanide on ships in disputed waters which could damage coral reefs in disputed waters.
The Philippines said it had found cyanide on Chinese ships near disputed South China Sea waters, and warned that the substance could be used to “sabotage” local fish populations.
Security officials from the Philippines said on Monday that laboratory tests confirmed the presence of the toxic substance in bottles seized by the Philippine navy last year at Second Thomas Shoal, an underwater coral reef in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.
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Officials warned that the cyanide could have serious consequences for marine life and weaken the coral reefs that support warships that Manila has moored on the atoll to strengthen its maritime claims.
“We would like to underline that the use of cyanide at Ayungin Shoal was a form of sabotage aimed at killing the local fish population, thereby depriving naval personnel of a vital food source,” Cornelio Valencia, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said at a press conference.
Valencia added that cyanide could damage coral reefs and “ultimately compromise” the stability of warships.
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China’s Foreign Ministry responded to this and rejected the Philippines’ statement, calling it an “act of deception”.
“The Filipino side illegally harassed Chinese fishing boats carrying out normal fishing, took away the fishermen’s food supplies, and carried out this cyanide deception. There is absolutely no credibility to their story,” said spokesman Guo Jiakun.
The Philippines accused China of disrupting resupply missions to troops on the ship, including an incident on June 17, 2024 that turned violent and resulted in a Filipino sailor losing a finger.
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In December 2025, the Philippines accused a Chinese coast guard vessel of firing water cannons at Filipino fishermen near the disputed Sabina Shoal, injuring three people and causing “significant damage” to two fishing vessels.
China denied accusations of aggressive behavior during the meeting and accused the Philippines of violating its territorial waters.
China and the Philippines held high-level talks last month on the South China Sea, exploring initial steps towards oil and gas cooperation, and confidence-building measures at sea, including communication between their coastguards.
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China claims almost the entire South China Sea, including areas claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.
A 2016 ruling by an international arbitration tribunal stated that Beijing’s sweeping claims had no basis in international law, a decision China rejected.
More than $3 trillion in trade via this major sea route takes place every year.***
