Senators yesterday asked if China could really be considered a "friend" of the Philippines in the wake of the June 9 incident in which the military said a Chinese fishing vessel hit an anchored Filipino fishing boat and left its crew to the mercy of the sea. Senate President Vicente Sotto III, however, was willing to give Beijing the benefit of the doubt. Unlike Sotto's lukewarm reaction, Senators Panfilo Lacson and Joseph Victor Ejercito were quick to question Beijing's sincerity in pursuing friendlier relations with Manila.

Nonato, V., & Vigilia, W. (2019, June 14). 'Is China really a friend?'. Malaya Business Insight, pp. B1, B6.