Like China’s actions around Pag-asa Island, the Filipino fishermen’s account of the Recto Bank ramming has been affirmed by the military. Yet unlike with the Pag-asa Island swarming case, where no Filipino was harmed, Duterte has chosen to play safe with the Recto Bank boat sinking incident, where 22 fishermen were left “tired, hungry, and cold” at sea, according to the Vietnamese who rescued them.