Philippines Detects Cyanide in Bottles from Chinese Vessels Near Shoal

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Security Council confirmed on Monday that laboratory tests detected cyanide in bottles seized from small boats operated by Chinese fishing vessels near Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, raising alarms over potential sabotage to marine ecosystems and national security interests.

The substance, a highly toxic chemical, was found in yellow bottles recovered by Philippine Navy personnel during operations around the shoal, known locally as Ayungin Shoal, on February 20 and October 24, 2025. Additional seizures occurred in July 2025, and troops observed similar activities in recent months. The bottles were analyzed by the National Bureau of Investigation, which verified the presence of cyanide capable of causing severe harm to humans and marine life. No troops stationed on the grounded Philippine outpost BRP Sierra Madre have shown signs of poisoning, according to Navy officials.

National Security Council Assistant Director-General Cornelio Valencia Jr. described the incidents as deliberate acts that threaten Navy personnel by contaminating water and fish stocks, which serve as a key food source for the troops. "The use of...