That's what Qing thought, look how it went. The reality is giving in one demand would result in more demands coming. If US insist on escalate, there is no stopping them. Best you can do is make sure they do not come out on top after escalation. As far as we know, China has the upper hand around the area, the win is just not going to be pretty. If US want to fuck around and fine out they can try!
Just one thought, which I just had right now!
We know what is going on, or at least we see what is going on.
The Philippines is going out of its way to provoke China.
That is really silly. So, I really do not pay much attention to it.
But right now, just had this idea, of why this is going on,
Obviously, the Americans want this.
Why?
Well, seems like the obvious reason is to force the Philippines to be always on the US side, and nothing like a good beating will accomplish that.
Kind of funny.
So, no, I do not think the Chinese will beat up the non-existent Filipino military forces, in order to cement the lame Filipino-American relationship, which really is serf and lord when it comes to Bong and Biden.
China has a lot of stuff, aka assets in the South China Sea, so they can play this cat and mouse game with the Philippines for as long as they like. Then, deepen investments into the Philippines by Chinese state own enterprises. The politics of the Philippines always swing back and forth.
Right now it seems a little unique as the Bong guy seems to be blackmailed into doing stupid shit, like he wants to get beat up in front of the world to please master Biden. There is something really dirty going there.