Responding to Chinese provocation | The Manila Times
CHINAs latest caper in the West Philippine Sea is meant quite clearly to test our resolve. Xi Jinping is also eager to find out how far our allies are willing to stand by us. Diplomatic protests are symbolically useful; they register our opposition to Chinas scheming and prevent the conclusion that we have acquiesced to its claims, acquiescence being a source of right in international law. Clearly, however, this is not enough.
Source: manilatimes.net