edit: see https://medium.com/@applification/fixing-react-native-android-permissions-9e78996e9865 for a workaround -@hramos

It seems like Read/Write external storage and Read phone state permissions are automatically added to the manifest on building the android apk. Are these necessary for all React Native android apps? Is there any way to remove these permissions?

android:uses-permission#android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE
android:uses-permission#android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE

It feels weird that I'll see these permissions being requested if I install the app from the Play store if I'm not using them.