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Duterte Stands by China, Doubts Own Fishermen in Sea Collision

  • Philippine leader says he first wants to hear Beijing’s side
  • Duterte must change his ‘passive’ China stance: vice president
A photo of the damaged Filipino fishing vessel F/B Gimver 1 is shown during a press conference in Manila on June 17.

A photo of the damaged Filipino fishing vessel F/B Gimver 1 is shown during a press conference in Manila on June 17.

Photographer: Aaron Favila/AP
Updated on

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is standing by China over a collision involving the two nations’ boats in the South China Sea, with his spokesman casting doubts on local fishermen’s accounts of the incident.

In his first public statement about what he described as a “maritime incident,” Duterte said China’s side should be heard on the collision that resulted in a Philippine vessel carrying 22 fishermen sinking in disputed waters on June 9. The crew were rescued by a Vietnamese fishing boat and a Philippine Navy ship.