"Officials warned that the cyanide could have had serious consequences for marine life and weakened the reef supporting a warship that Manila grounded on the atoll to reinforce its maritime claim."
"Cornelio Valencia, National Security Council spokesperson, stated that the use of cyanide in Ayungin Shoal is a form of sabotage that seeks to kill local fish populations, depriving navy personnel of a vital food source."
"The Foreign Ministry of China rejected the Philippines' assertions, calling them a stunt and claiming that the Philippine side illegally harassed the Chinese fishing boats conducting normal fishing."
"The Philippines has accused China of disrupting resupply missions to troops on the vessel, including a June 17, 2024, incident that turned violent and resulted in a Filipino sailor losing a finger."
The Philippines discovered cyanide on Chinese boats near Second Thomas Shoal, raising concerns about its potential use for sabotage against local fish populations. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of cyanide in bottles seized by the Philippine navy. Officials warned that this toxic substance could harm marine life and weaken the reef supporting a grounded warship, which is crucial for reinforcing maritime claims. China rejected these assertions, claiming they are unfounded and accusing the Philippines of harassing Chinese fishermen.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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