Philippines Accuses China of Using Cyanide to Sabotage South China Sea Reef

The Philippines has formally accused China of attempting to sabotage marine ecosystems in the disputed South China Sea by using cyanide. Philippine security officials announced that laboratory tests confirmed the presence of the toxic substance in yellow bottles seized by the navy from Chinese boats near Second Thomas Shoal last year. Officials warn that this act aims to kill local fish populations, depriving stationed navy personnel of food, and could weaken the coral reef supporting the grounded warship BRP Sierra Madre, thereby compromising its structural stability. China’s Foreign Ministry firmly rejected these allegations, labeling them a credibility-lacking stunt and accusing Manila of illegally harassing Chinese fishermen and confiscating their supplies. This incident escalates tensions following previous confrontations, including a violent clash in June 2024 and water cannon incidents in late 2025. Despite recent high-level talks exploring confidence-building measures and potential energy cooperation, both nations maintain rigid positions on territorial claims. The Philippines emphasizes that coastguard cooperation remains limited and excludes sensitive operational areas, while China continues to assert sovereignty over nearly the entire sea, rejecting the 2016 international arbitral ruling against its claims.