The Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has leveled accusations against Chinese fishing vessels, alleging the use of cyanide to devastate marine life in Scarborough Shoal, a contentious area claimed by both the Philippines and China. According to spokesperson Nazario Briguera, the destructive practice is being utilized  to harvest fish and intentionally damage the ecosystem to deter Filipino fishermen from the area.Â
Scarborough Shoal, recognized internationally as within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), has been a longstanding flashpoint in Philippine-China relations, with an international tribunal ruling in 2016 in favor of the Philippines. Despite this, China has maintained a de facto control over the area, often leading to confrontations with Philippine fishermen. The Chinese have long been suspects of overfishing and environmental destruction attributed to their large and advanced fishing fleet, and are regualrly accused of engaging in illegal, unreported, and undocumented fishing practices not only in the South China Sea but globally.
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