MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) stated Tuesday that cyanide fishing seems to be recurring in Ayungin Shoal within the West Philippine Sea, citing a number of encounters and laboratory-confirmed findings, whilst China dismissed the allegations as fabricated.
The response got here after Chinese language Overseas Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun dismissed the report as a “cyanide stunt,” reiterated Beijing’s declare that Ayungin Shoal is a part of China’s Nansha Qundao, and accused Philippine forces of illegally harassing Chinese language fishermen and seizing their provides.
AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad stated the navy stands by its findings, which have been backed by laboratory testing.
“All of our actions are primarily based on scientific proof. We don’t fabricate,” Trinidad stated in a briefing at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon Metropolis.
“It took greater than a yr to have this liquid checked and make sure that it contained cyanide,” he added.
He stated the Nationwide Bureau of Investigation confirmed by laboratory evaluation that the seized liquid examined optimistic for cyanide.
Trinidad additionally rejected Beijing’s declare that Philippine forces harassed Chinese language fishermen, accusing Chinese language state-linked vessels of conducting “unlawful, coercive, aggressive and misleading” actions.
“These measures have been the reason for instability not solely within the West Philippine Sea however in different components of the globe,” he stated.
READ: West Philippine Sea: China dumping cyanide in Spratlys, PH says
The AFP stated containers have been recovered in three separate operations throughout patrols close to Ayungin Shoal involving fishermen aboard small picket fishing boats, or sampans.
“Due to operational considerations, we didn’t apprehend them or arrest them. That might have meant bringing them aboard the ship,” Trinidad stated.
He stated most inspected sampans carried unlawful fishing paraphernalia.
“Many of the sampans contained unlawful fishing paraphernalia. There was no indication of any approved fishing gear onboard,” he stated.
Repeated encounters
In an interview at Camp Aguinaldo, Navy personnel deployed aboard BRP Sierra Madre stated related encounters occurred throughout these months close to the Philippine-held outpost.
The sailors, recognized solely by their aliases “Hermes” and “Poseidon,” stated Chinese language sampans repeatedly approached Ayungin throughout patrols.
They wore face masks throughout the interview to hide their identities, which AFP Public Affairs Workplace chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad stated was essential to stop safety breaches.
Each are Lieutenant Junior Grade officers.
Hermes stated troops used rubber boats to intercept one of many vessels after monitoring its motion close to the world.
“At the moment, we solely suspected the bottles contained cyanide. However with the latest affirmation, it examined optimistic,” he stated.
He stated personnel noticed containers onboard that instantly raised suspicion.
The fishermen, he added, didn’t reply or try to clarify themselves.
“They didn’t give rationalization. They didn’t attempt to communicate. Their actions confirmed they wished to get away and keep away from being apprehended,” Hermes stated.
In a single nighttime encounter in October 2025, Hermes recalled how troops moved to cease a sampan that had approached the Sierra Madre.
“Our troops tried to cease them from transferring away from the place they have been intercepted,” he stated.
He added that officers noticed containers onboard even earlier than boarding the vessel.
“With the bare eye, we noticed containers of their boat. At the moment, we solely suspected that it contained cyanide,” he stated.
Hermes stated the troops didn’t contact the Chinese language fishermen or use power or projectiles throughout the encounter.
He added the sampan was later allowed to return to its mom vessel after its engine was fastened.
“Once we stopped them, we waited for his or her engine to be fastened and made certain they returned safely to their mothership,” he stated.
Environmental harm
Poseidon, who had spent prolonged durations within the space, stated repeated encounters and visual coral degradation have raised concern amongst troops.
“It’s unhappy as a result of Ayungin… I noticed the underside of it throughout my keep there. I used to be there for a very long time. It’s so stunning. It’s simply unhappy that some components are already lifeless,” he stated in Filipino.
He stated coral situations within the space have visibly worsened over time.
Trinidad stated reef harm across the outpost was “fairly intensive,” citing different harmful fishing practices noticed within the space, together with high quality mesh nets and barrier nets.
“These nets are designed to hamper our resupply missions and have additionally contributed to coral harm,” he stated.
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He stated the matter can be referred to the Division of Overseas Affairs for doable diplomatic motion. /cb
