Specifically RP wanted to push China out of the Spratlys, the dozens of isles in the South China Sea over which it and four ASEAN allies hold overlapping claims. Skirmishes had been erupting too often among China, Vietnam and the Philippines that the region was being watched as a major flashpoint.
Inaangkin ang Spratlys di lang ng RP at China, kundi pati Taiwan at taga-ASEAN na Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia at Brunei. Dahil sa malimit na girian ng RP, China at Vietnam, nilistang sanhi ng karahasan ang rehiyon.