I see much ado about nothing. Especially few bases in Philippines which will be destroyed the instant any war vs USA happens. USA is still 10,000km+ away.
USA got a few useless bases in Philippines. Thats their only "win" recently. China got Russia basically on their side now with no other option to go back to USA or eu. China got Iran/Saudi deal, which is a massive sign of things to come, they are applying for BRICS/SCO and even if they don't make it in, it's clear as day that iran Saudi/gulf/Arab ties are shifting in china's favor and away from USA. Indonesia and asean in general are all on china's side(economics) no one wants to side with USA economically or militarily. turkey is "us NATO ally", but also buys s400 and sanctioned by USA and wants to join BRICS and sco.
Even eu like France making statements clear as day about not involved in Taiwan and not being a us vassal. USA has failed to convince anyone in eu, their supposed allies to go against china and decouple.
More and more are doing bilateral currency swap with China and trading using Yuan and side stepping USA.
Things are going great for China. It is an economic war, not military. in military war, no one wins, and if it does go hot, china Russia nk alone can handle anything usa tries in west pac. SK Japan Taiwan Philippines cannot do shit. They will be cannon fodder and sacrificed by USA. That's their whole job. USA won't attack China or Russia mainlands. They didn't during Korean war, they won't today even more since China and Russia can wipe USA mainland off the planet also.
If anything usa forces occupying Japan/sk/Philippines is good, USA keeps them feeling cozy and secure, when in reality USA will sacrifice them if anything happens. If USA wasnt there, Japan and sk would build nukes for sure, and militarize way harder. USA is basically keeping them weak and reliant on USA, not letting them grow too strong both economically and militarily. This is good for China and allows things to be easier, in the same way boratas says it's better to align with vn and kick Philippines out of SCS. China and USA are the two dominant powers and USA and China can and imo will make rapprochement in the future when China is stronger and USA has played their last cards and realize China cannot be contained anymore.
China is still biding her time and hiding her strength to a degree, even if it's much harder now. But in reality it could be much much worse. China is still building up assets and growing at record speeds relative to USA, so why would it rock the boat? That's what usa wants.
Even today, USA far underestimates china and has not picked up their game at all. China is still building like double or triple what USA is in terms of navy and other stuff, and even if Japan or whatever get a few more shitty rockets, so what? China is building thousands of nukes and will reach parity soon. Once China has thousand or more, all talk of war with China will end once and for all.
Just wait another 10-20 years, you will see. China is laying the groundwork now with diplomacy, like in ME, Africa, and even Europe and USA, leaving the door still open and not fully committing yet while it keeps building it's strength. Then all of a sudden dozens of overseas bases will open all at once. If China starts now, it will only galvanize USA and the rest to wake up and counter china for real and it will only hinder china's growth which is the most important thing. Time is on china's side, it doesn't need to change anything, even with all these provocations.
Sure, china loses some face if Philippines talks back, but so what? China will have the last laugh while if anything happens Philippines will be the one destroyed. Talk is cheap. China doesn't need to talk, just continue growing in strength. If they dare, let them cross chinas red lines. If they dare, let Philippines and USA sail navy and kick china off the islands and attack china's SCS bases. USA can sail ships in SCS all it wants, its just empty provocation and doesn't change anything that matters, which is china's rise.