The Philippines has lodged a diplomatic protest over the sinking of a fishing boat by a Chinese vessel in Recto Bank on June 9, with the Chinese abandoning the Filipino fishermen in the sea. Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said that if the sinking of the boat is found to be “intentional,” it could be considered as an act of aggression that will warrant cutting off diplomatic ties. Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said he “fired off” a diplomatic protest Wednesday, but gave no details. Panelo said the incident, which happened on Philippine-China Friendship Day and three days before Independence Day, left President Duterte outraged.

Mendez, C., Lee-Brago, P., Laude, J., & Macairan, E. (2019, June 14). Phl fires off diplomatic protest over boat sinking. The Philippine Star, pp. 1, 8.