Scarborough Shoal viewed from space during ISS Expedition 45. (Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center)
The Philippines National Security Council (NSC) made a shocking discovery on April 13 that suspicious bottles seized from the Chinese sampans near the BRP Sierra Madre (LS-57), the permanent military outpost in Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal), tested positive for cyanide.
The Filipino Navy said that the confiscation was conducted in two separate raids, in February and October last year. After review and detailed analysis, the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) official spokesperson confirmed, “The NBI verified that the bottles contained cyanide, a highly toxic chemical that causes severe and irreversible damage to humans and marine ecosystems. These findings confirm the dangerous and unlawful nature of the activities.”
Furthermore, the Forensic and Scientific Research Service (FSRS) asserted that intentional cyanide use may lead to catastrophic effects on the livelihood of fisheries communities and devastate coral reef foundations and marine ecosystems by killing local fish populations.
The NSC reprimanded the Chinese that such actions are proven unlawful and illegal, as it violates the existing legal frameworks within the Philippines and international legal mechanisms, of which is mainly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
It also called the Armed Forces and Coast Guard to step up and increase operations to prevent any environmental harm and safeguard national territorial integrity.
The Philippines faced a similar experience in February 2024, when there was a strong suspicion regarding the deliberate dumping of cyanide in Scarborough Shoal.
This incident drew a strong reaction from the Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., stating that the Philippines would pursue prosecution if evidence is proven to support the allegations.
China and the Philippines have repeatedly experienced tensions at key flashpoints, specifically in Second Thomas Shoal and Scarborough Shoal. This is due to the overlapping maritime claims in the South China Sea, which Manila refers to as the West Philippine Sea.
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