Even before Aquino and his security and diplomatic officials began hyping the Spratly Islands issue, the US had long been planning to incite tensions in the area in order to create conditions that would justify its entry into the fray.
Bago pa man mag-ingay sa usapin ng Spratly Islands si Aquino at kanyang mga upisyal panseguridad at diplomatiko, matagal nang plano ng US na pakuluin ang kaguluhan doon upang lumikha ng kundisyon para makapanghimasok ito.