Combined US-PH pressure on China in the SCS continues. Not sure what China will do on the SCS that can firmly put Philippines in its place and also show US as completely powerless in the SCS.
Clearly Water Cannon is not working.
It's a non-issue, Philippines is on defence and China has unlimited escalation freedom even without using lethal force, e.g. disabling engines with a drone then tow them away, or use non-lethal or acoustics against the aground boat. (i.e. melt them with microwaves)
The question is objectives, China's main game is against the US and of course continue its own technological singularity, Philippines is a side show that just need to be contained. Once the main game is done, Philippines will either go away on it's own, or China can play any one of the infinite number of cards.
It's the same as Hong Kong 2019, when it ended with NSL in 2020, it was solved in its entirety and it didn't even matter at that point.
Also if it does come to a military conflict with the US and Philippines donates land for US forces, Philippines land just became free real estate.