What if the US used the Philippines as a staging ground for drone and air strikes? Would China be able to stop that?
personally, I always thought this scenario was the one where 076 would've mattered. Philippines is not really worth committing a carrier over, but cannot be left alone if being used as a firebase for US missiles, 076 is well fitted to solve this issue.
The biggest threat the Philippines pose to China is preventing Chinese vessels from transiting the Bashi channel. Anti-ship assets on the Luzon island prevents PLAN from deploying or reinforcing the western Pacific. Hence, a constant maritime and aerial presence must be maintained in the area to provide cover for PLAN ships breaking into the Pacific, this is a mission 076 can fulfill.