The Phil­ip­pines accused Chinese fish­er­men on Monday of pour­ing cyan­ide in waters in the Spratly Islands, a flash point in the dis­puted South China Sea that has been the site of viol­ent con­front­a­tions with Chinese ves­sels. Beijing claims the stra­tegic South China Sea in nearly its entirety, des­pite an inter­na­tional rul­ing that its asser­tion has no legal basis. The Phil­ip­pines’ National Secur­ity Coun­cil (NSC) alleged the pois­on­ing began last year around Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly chain, which sits near vital ship­ping lanes and is reputedly rich in min­er­als.

China poisoning waters in Ayungin Shoal - NSC. (2026, April 14). The Manila Times, pp. A1, A2.