Following US directives, Aquino has been drumming up the Spratly Islands issue in order to foment diplomatic and military tensions in the South China Sea. The US wants to create a situation where its military forces could intervene in the name of "extending assistance" to the Philippines. It is the US' strategic objective to deter China's rise as a power as it views the latter as a growing threat to US worldwide hegemony.
Sa utos ng US, ginagatungan ni Aquino ang isyu ng Spratly Islands upang lumikha ng tensyong diplomatiko at militar sa South China Sea. Nais ng US na likhain ang sitwasyon upang makapanghimasok ang pwersang militar nito sa ngalan ng "pagtulong" sa Pilipinas. Estratehikong layunin ng US na hadlangan ang paglakas ng China na itinuturing na lumalaking banta sa pangdaigdigang kapangyarihan ng US.