And there's nothing the Philippines and US could do about it. China is now too powerful. A superpower comparable to the US.
Let me correct your first sentence: "And there's nothing the Philippines can and US will do about it". There, that's better
US is a fading superpower. All they do nowadays is bully those who can't fight back (except ISIS because that's another matter). But when they are faced against an equal or stronger opponent, they scuttle away.
Personally I put it down to the style of the US President. Another, stronger, personality might paint a different picture. The US now needs China more than China needs the US Maybe it's possible to reverse that position in time ?
