The article is written with such mendicant bias. One should appraise the Chinese policy in deep bilateralism, something that has been a hallmark of their foreign policy. If the Philippines and China can develop a framework to "work out" differences, then that's great.
The Philippines and China need to form a direct channel for communication, much like what Japan and China have successfully rated and worked out this year.
So you see, folks, there is light outside the tunnel.
Promising news.
@OrionHunter ,
One theme that we have to appreciate is that China is willing to entreat with parties and not act on shear unilaterlism as like what Moscow had done in 1) Georgia, 2) The Crimea, 3) The Ukraine.
China, under the leadership of President Xi Jinping and under the guidance of the 13th Plennum's Mandate, is willing to cooperate and to discuss with partners in the region. That is why I admire the Chinese in that nationalistic tendencies aside, they (Chinese Leadership) are mature enough to consider their own weight and capabilities and that of their much smaller neighbors.
Rather, I should say that we should appreciate how restrained the Chinese have been. How all claimants have been restrained, period. I think that this will be the basis for regional cooperation in joint patrols, joint development of said maritime areas. This is an opportunity not only for the Chinese, but for ASEAN and the surrounding Asian region.