The Philippine government can bank on the support of the United States to protect its international rights amid the tensions stemming from the issues over disputed the West Philippine Sea, US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim said on Tuesday. In a press conference at the Seda Abreeza Hotel in Davao, Kim underscored the need to protect international rights such as the freedom of navigation and the freedom of life in light of the recent maritime incident at the Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea where a Filipino fishing boat was reportedly rammed by a Chinese fishing vessel. The 22 fishermen aboard the sunken Gem-Ver fishing boat at the Recto Bank were rescued by a Vietnamese fishing vessel hours after they were reportedly rammed and abandoned by a Chinese fishing vessel.

Colina, A. L. IV. (2019, June 19). US ambassador vows to protect PH's international rights amid new tensions in the West Philippine Sea. Manila Bulletin, p. 8.