Could these disputes in the South China Sea escalate to the point where the Philippines invokes the 1951-Mutual Defense Treaty with the US to invoke direct military support? Or might the Philippines return to something along the lines of Duterte's brand of resurgent nationalism?
https://www.yahoo.com/news/exclusive-philippines-turned-down-us-084613237.html
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines has turned down offers from the United States to assist operations in the South China Sea, after a flare-up with China over missions to resupply Filipino troops on a contested shoal, its military chief said.
Tensions in the disputed waterway have boiled over into violence in the past year, with a Filipino sailor losing a finger in the latest June 17 clash that Manila described as “intentional-high speed ramming” by the Chinese coast guard.
The US, a treaty ally, has offered support but Manila prefers to handle operations on its own, Armed Forces Chief General Romeo Brawner told Reuters late Thursday.
https://old.reddit.com/r/geopolitics/comments/1dw5wpp/philippines_turned_down_us_help_amid_south_china/