Philippines Says China Boats’ Cyanide Threatens Sea Outpost

The Philippines on Monday said it confirmed that Chinese boats last year used cyanide that threatens the stability of the Southeast Asian nation’s military outpost in the disputed South China Sea, as well as the safety of its soldiers.

The Philippines’ National Security Council said at a briefing that laboratory analysis confirmed that bottles recovered from Chinese boats near Second Thomas Shoal in February and October 2025 contained cyanide.