After US reaffirming its stand, how would China approach the conflict this time?

with caution now that the us have shown support for asia pacific region against the Chinese aggression. but we still hoping the dispute can be resolved in the arbitrary measure at the un tribunal which the Chinese do not show any support of any tribunal body or council to the problem on the west china sea. on the other hand, the Chinese navy fleet can test this us stand in the coming days or months on how good is the promise of the us to back their allies in case trouble erupt in the region. it could be called trouble in little Philippines.

It will be posturing, both diplomatic and militarily for China as the UN arbitration process unfolds. While the tribunal decision will be very hard to enforce, China may end up sanctioned and be humiliated if the UN rules against them leading to a potential conflict as its naval forces have been becoming aggressive in not allowing other claimants to fish and travel across the conflict zones. On the lighter side, this should offer China the opportunity to act benovolently and backtrack, offer the olive branch and allow others to jointly explore the area and profit from opportunities that the rich resources there bring with it.

the best way to view china is like a mental patient that suffers from the delusion that he is SunZu, a first century samuri fuedal warlord, always and everywhere at war with all neighbors at all times, ever seeking to expand territory and power, always probing, provoking, plotting, and subverting each neighbor enemy, with false alliances, deception, disinformation, spies, infiltraitors, agitators, provacatuers, traitors, collaborators, sabotuers, dividing all subgroups, playing both sides, etc, etc. China will always, always, be a military threat to the Philippines, forever. The recent agreement for unrestricted US base access for 10 years to help rotation of troops and pre position supplies puts the Philippines in a much stronger position, because it means the US will have the means to respond more quickly.

The Philippines is doomed if it fails to build up a credible military or tries the same pacificist approach that doomed Tibet into slavery by China.

If China decides to make a provacative action soon, this may cause US to accelerate and escalate US movement to the Philippines, which can be done more quickly and efficiently now. US credibility would require the US to make a firm response to treaty partner Philippines, especially right after an enhanced military agreement was just made, in person, by the leaders of both nations The US basically did little to Russia, other than begin to bankrupt the powerful Oligarchs, because Ukraine has no defense treaty with anyone. The economic response to an attack on a US treaty partner would be much worse, and it would not take much to totally shut down and collapse the economy of China, who is overly dependant upon trade and imports, especially fuel.