Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana on Tuesday criticized China for failing to match its commitment of peace to the Philippines with actions, calling its neighbor a bully. People doubt China’s sincerity, Mr. Lorenzana told a briefing, adding that the Chinese “are grabbing islands there and bullying people around.” He was reacting to a Pulse Asia Research, Inc. poll that more Filipinos have expressed distrust in China as of end-June after the alleged sinking of a Filipino fishing boat by a Chinese vessel in the South China Sea.

Ferreras, V. A. (2019, July 31). Defense chief: China is a bully in disputed sea. BusinessWorld, p. S1/9.