The Philippines has accused Chinese fishermen of dumping cyanide in waters around Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, alleging that the act is intended to sabotage local fish populations and deprive Filipino troops stationed at the shoal of a crucial food source. The Philippine National Security Council (NSC) reported that laboratory tests confirmed the presence of cyanide in bottles seized by the Philippine navy from sampan boats launched from Chinese fishing vessels.
Key Takeaways
The Philippines has accused Chinese fishermen of dumping cyanide in waters around Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea to sabotage local fish populations and deprive Filipino troops of food. The Philippines claims to have seized cyanide from Chinese boats and tested positive samples, while China dismisses the allegations as a 'farce'.
- Philippine officials allege cyanide dumping near Second Thomas Shoal.
- Cyanide could damage marine life and compromise a grounded warship's stability.
- China denies the accusations, calling them a 'stunt' and claims harassment by Philippine forces.
- The incident follows years of tensions in the disputed South China Sea.
According to NSC assistant director-general Cornelio Valencia, the use of cyanide poses health risks to troops by contaminating water and fish and could damage coral reefs supporting a grounded warship, the BRP Sierra Madre. The ship was deliberately placed there in 1999 to assert Manila's claim over the territory. Philippine Navy spokesman Rear Adm Roy Vincent Trinidad stated that Filipino troops had seized cyanide bottles from Chinese sampan boats on multiple occasions last year and spotted another crew poisoning waters near the shoal last month.
China has dismissed the allegations, with foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakin calling them a 'farce' and stating that the Philippines illegally harassed Chinese fishing vessels. The incident follows years of tense stand-offs and occasional violent confrontations between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the disputed waters. The South China Sea is at the center of overlapping territorial claims by several countries, including China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei.
The Philippines has raised the alleged poisoning with Beijing but received no formal response. The NSC intends to submit a report to the foreign ministry that could form the basis of a diplomatic protest. Meanwhile, tensions between Manila and Beijing have escalated sharply in recent years, with incidents such as Chinese coastguard personnel boarding Philippine navy boats near Second Thomas Shoal in June 2024.
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