Bottles of ‘cyanide’ seized from Chinese fishers

An aerial view shows the BRP Sierra Madre on the contested Second Thomas Shoal, locally known as Ayungin, in the South China Sea, March 9, 2023. (INQUIRER FILES)

MANILA, Philippines — The military has seized bottles of suspected cyanide from the crew of Chinese boats caught fishing in the waters off Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea on Friday last week.

The Chinese boats were escorted out before they could do more harm to coral reefs and marine life around the shoal, which over the years has been a major flash point of tension between Manila and Beijing.

“AFP personnel promptly escorted the unauthorized fishing boats out of the area and confiscated bottles containing suspected cyanide chemicals reportedly used for destructive fishing,” the Armed Forces of the Philippines said.

Marines are stationed in the BRP Sierra Madre, which serves as the Philippines’ outpost at Ayungin Shoal.

After a violent confrontation during a resupply mission to the shoal on June 17, 2024, Manila and Beijing drew up a “provisional understanding” at the 10th Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea. Since then, there has been no untoward incident at the shoal.

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However, an AFP patrol last Aug. 20 witnessed another aggression when a Chinese boat mounted with armaments was deployed to the area, while a China Coast Guard ship conducted a water cannon exhibition.

A Chinese vessel was also seen deploying fishnets on the southeast approach of the shoal, while a Chinese unmanned aerial vehicle hovered in the area.

Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea.