In a statement dated April 15, the DFA said it is “awaiting to receive the formal report of the findings from the scientific and technical analysis done by relevant authorities on the chemicals confiscated from Chinese fisherfolk in Ayungin Shoal last year,” noting that the document will guide its next steps.

“The formal report will serve as the basis for the DFA to evaluate and determine the appropriate diplomatic action to take on this matter,” the department said.

The issue stems from separate interdictions by Philippine forces on February 20 and October 24, 2025, when Navy personnel under the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command intercepted Chinese fishing boats operating near the BRP Sierra Madre, the country’s outpost in Ayungin Shoal. Authorities seized so-called “yellow bottles,” along with gloves and fishing gear, from the vessels.

These materials were later examined by the National Bureau of Investigation, whose forensic tests confirmed the presence of cyanide, a toxic chemical known to destroy coral reefs, kill fish, and pose risks to human health.

Earlier in April, National Security Council (NSC) Assistant Director General and Spokesperson Cornelio H. Valencia disclosed the laboratory findings, saying the cyanide-laced bottles were recovered “in the immediate vicinity” of the BRP Sierra Madre.

In a press conference, the NSC warned that such acts may constitute illegal destructive fishing and even “sabotage” of marine ecosystems and the food supply of Filipino troops and fisherfolk in the area.

The DFA underscored the broader legal implications of the incident, stating that “the use of cyanide and other similar toxic agents in the marine environment is irresponsible and unacceptable, and runs counter to obligations of States Parties under the 1982 UNCLOS, particularly the duty to protect and preserve the marine environment and prevent pollution at sea.”

Ayungin Shoal lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea, a part of the broader South China Sea that remains a flashpoint for maritime tensions between Manila and Beijing.

China has denied the allegations, calling them unfounded and accusing Philippine authorities of harassing its fishermen.

Despite the competing claims, the DFA reiterated its position: “The Philippines will continue to monitor and call out any infringements on its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction across all its maritime zones.”

The anticipated report is expected to shape Manila’s next move as it balances environmental protection, food security concerns, and ongoing tensions in the contested waters.

It seems there’s no stopping China. Three weeks after intentionally hitting the Philippine Coast Guard vessel on its way to Second Thomas Shoal which is part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, another dangerous ploy was committed by China on November 10, this time there were more than 10 Chinese ships blocked and harassed the supply mission of the Philippine Coast Guard.

The Philippine vessels were on their way to Ayungin Shoal to resupply food for Filipino troops aboard the BRP Sierra Madre, Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) deployed water cannons during a resupply mission at Ayungin Shoal.

In the statement of the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), it said that the Chinese Coast Guard attacked the Philippine vessels with water cannon as they sailed towards Ayungin Shoal.

Meanwhile, several ambassadors took the X app (formerly Twitter) to reiterate support for the Philippines and urged China to observe the rule of law.

US Ambassador, MaryKay Carlson said in her post, Despite continued PRC harassment, the Philippines successfully and lawfully resupplied its forces on the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal, located wholly within the 🇵🇭 EEZ. 🇺🇸 and 🇵🇭 stand together as #FriendsPartnersAllies for a #FreeAndOpenIndoPacific.

https://x.com/usambph/status/1722888297901699346?s=46

Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko said, “We give high importance to a free & open maritime order based on the rule of law as JP-PH discussed during PM visit last week. Any harassment & actions which increase tensions are not tolerated.”

https://x.com/AmbJPNinPH/status/1722938327350038817?s=20

British Ambassador Laure Beaufils said, The the United Kingdom notes unsafe conduct again experienced by 🇵🇭 vessels on their resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal. We join 🇵🇭 in calling out actions that undermine peace & stability in SCS. We are committed to UNCLOS, under which 2016 Arbitral Award is final & legally binding on both parties.”

https://x.com/LaureBeaufils/status/1722937300055908555?s=20

Australian Ambassador HK Yu, PSM said, “Australia is again concerned by dangerous conduct, including the use of water cannons, by China’s vessels in the Philippines’ EEZ. Upholding international law, especially UNCLOS is fundamental to international peace and security. We call for UNCLOS to be respected.”

https://x.com/AusAmbPH/status/1722909126110691562?s=20

French Ambassador Marie Fontanel said, “I reaffirmed 🇫🇷 continuous support to the 🇵🇭 Coast Guards. Today again the resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre faced dangerous deliberate obstacles in 🇵🇭 EEZ but was eventually successful.”

https://x.com/MarieFontanel67/status/1722896756076327345

German Ambassador to the Philippines Ambassador Andreas Pfaffernoschke posted, “In view of today’s event in the South China Sea, 🇩🇪 reiterates its support for the 🇵🇭 in advocating respect for International law in the South China Sea, as an essential pillar for peace and security.”

https://x.com/germanyinphl/status/1722964505074782512?s=20

Finnish Ambassador Juha Pyykkö said, “I express our support to the Philippines calling for respect for international law in the South China Sea.”

https://x.com/JuhaPyykko/status/1723235688597086527?s=20

Canadian Ambassador David Hartman posted, “Canada is concerned by dangerous maneuvers and use of water cannon by the Coast Guard and maritime militia of the People’s Republic of China in the Philippine’s EEZ, the latest in a series of escalating acts of intimidation. This undermines regional peace and stability. 🇨🇦🇵🇭”

https://x.com/AmbDBHartman/status/1723130303068487978?s=20

Dutch Ambassador Marielle Geraedts said, “NLinPhilippines
underlines the importance of UNCLOS and the 2016 arbitral award.”

https://x.com/geraedtsmariel/status/1722929398184399231?s=20

European Ambassador Luc Véron said, “We reiterate our support to the 🇵🇭 in its call for the full observance of International Law in the South China Sea.”

https://x.com/EUAmbPH/status/1722900927559205160?s=20

This is not the first time that China provoked the Philippines just this year the Chinese Coast Guards attacked the Philippine coastguards with military-grade lasers and water cannons while resupplying in the Ayungin Shoal. Apart from that, China continues to harass and block the supply to BRP Sierra Madre for those manning the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and defies the arbitral ruling that the Philippines won in 2016 in Hague, voiding their 9-dash line claim and reaffirmed sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea.

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Earlier this month of August, the recent aggression showcased by China in an attempt to defer the Philippine supply ships, escorted by the Philippine Coast Guard, has managed to get into the headlines of the country’s primary mainstream media outlets, and became the primary talk among common folks, on streets and on social media.

This recent incident involves the aggressive use of water cannons by China Coast Guard vessels on both the Philippine civilian supply ships and the escorts, while at the same time, these same Chinese white-hulled vessels attempt to block the path of their Philippine counterparts, a tactic known by experts on matters in the West Philippine Sea as the ‘gray zone’, a tactic that employs very reckless means short of war.

The gray tactics shown by the China Coast Guard, coupled with multiple maritime militia vessels that help enforce an unofficial blockade on BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, show the shortcomings of the Philippine authorities, specifically the Coast Guard, regarding the use of its vessels that are clearly outnumbered by what the Chinese have mustered during the incident.

And the situation becomes dire for the Philippines as maritime experts like retired U.S. Air Force Col. Ray Powell said in a Sealight article he crafted that China is betting on the fact that the BRP Sierra Madre has slowly become more inhabitable for assigned Philippine Marine Corps onboard through time, eventually making it effective for China to get control over Ayungin Shoal eventually as its latest holding in the West Philippine Sea, a move that is clearly illegal both in the 2016 Arbitral Ruling and the guidelines of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS.

With the dire situation slowly showing how hard will it be for the Philippines to conduct its future replenishment missions, it is also showing an opportunity for the Philippine Coast Guard to push for any kind of funding or support from the national government that will enable the leadership to buy additional white-hull vessels that further push its capabilities in making sure that any future replenishment missions they escorted getting a higher chance for success.

In fact, this opportunity comes hand-in-hand with the calls coming from the Philippine Coast Guard earlier this year, expressing its desire to add at least five additional Teresa Magbanua-class Multirole Response Vessels or MRRVs, a large white-hulled vessel derived from Japan Coast Guard’s Kunigami-class Offshore Patrol Vessels that have the length of 97 meters.

In context, the Philippine Coast Guard currently has at least ten (10) 44-meter vessels known as the Parola-class Multirole Response Vessels, of which several of these ships actively taking part in the recent incident in the West Philippine Sea when it escorted supply ships for the Marine troops aboard the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal. 

Aside from the ten (10) Parola-class Multirole Response Vessels, the Philippine Coast Guard also possesses at least two (2) 97-meter Teresa Magbanua-class Multirole Response Vessels, which given the current incident that took place, is not enough for the maritime law enforcement agency to further pursue its presence-related operations in the area, not to mention the idea of asserting the 2016 Arbitral Ruling by enforcing the country’s jurisdiction against the Chinese maritime militia vessels that masquerade as civilian fishermen in the area.

The opportunity for the Philippine Coast Guard to get more white hull ships at this time comes as the sentiments against the Chinese, and the nationalistic essence that it has got growing regardless of the ever-growing assertiveness of the pro-Chinese forces in cyberspace, pushing their narrative that it was the Philippines and the United States who push the provocations and not the Chinese.

With the situation expected to become much more tense over time with the BRP Sierra Madre crumbling slowly, it is the right time for the Philippine Coast Guard to convince the government, specifically the House of Representatives, to push the Philippine Coast Guard modernization program, if not to provide them sufficient funding for them to get more ships and recruit additional personnel, as the iron is still hot and it is best to strike it while it is hot.

EDITOR’S NOTE: In global maritime, white ship refers to non-military commercial vessels and its movement must not be deemed as a threat.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Pitz Orpiano is a government employee and currently getting a Masters Degree in Public Administration at a prestigious university in Zamboanga City. He manages Pitz Defense Analysis, a website focusing on updates about the AFP Modernization, the details on military hardware potentially on the procurement list, and other discussions surrounding national defense.