Filipino officials then crowed about a job well done standing up to a giant. Two years later saw an abrupt change. RP broke ranks from ASEAN and opted to deal with China on its own.
Lumipas lang ang dalawang taon, bumaliktad ang lahat. Tumiwalag ang RP mula sa kasunduang ito mismo ang nagpasimuno, at nagpasyang solo na lang siyang makikipagharap sa China.