In an exclusive interview with the AFP on Tuesday, Philippine President Benigno Aquino lashed out at China's construction work on some islands of the South China Sea. He said China's moves "should engender fear for the rest of the world." Although he didn't believe China would resort to military actions against the Philippines over territorial conflicts, he warned that there is a possibility, and "the question of it escalating to something beyond everybody's control should be at the top of the minds of all world leaders."

Following Aquino's aggressive remarks, the Philippines' spokesperson for foreign ministry and national defense minister also cast stones at China's construction work on the islands. It is quite tricky because the concerted attacks by the Philippine authorities happen to echo US President Barack Obama's recent criticism of China's South China Sea policy.

Manila has come up with a list of charges against China's island-building activities, warning that they have damaged ecology and affected the lives of fishermen. Aquino and his followers behaved like a doormat in a bid to arouse sympathy and support from the international community.

However, Manila has been deliberately playing down its own activities on the islands it illegally seized from China. In April 2012, a local official in the Philippines reportedly revealed that they would open a primary school on Zhongye Island two months later.

Such efforts were intensified in 2013, with some Philippine officials divulging that the government would upgrade a runway and some naval apparatus on this island. What's more, it has set up small-sized military bastions or garrison points on other ill-gotten islands or reefs.

In order to accomplish these projects and take a deep root, Manila destroyed many coral reefs, and even blew them up which severely damaged the ecological system.

China's construction work will probably not "engender fear" in the international community. Even the Philippines itself will not be afraid. Aquino said this because he is looking to the US as a bellwether as Japan does. What Washington endorses, in Manila's eyes, is equivalent to the international norms.

With the US' support, Aquino has a delusion that the world is by his side. However, his intermittent spitting only proves that he is making a fuss and his country will be isolated by the international community.

China has already clarified that all the infrastructure work on the islands is for the public good. These new multipurpose facilities will add more robust impetus to the economic growth of nations surrounding the South China Sea. Most ASEAN nations maintain a calm attitude toward China's activities, and many unrelated countries have also kept a neutral stance on this matter.

Most accusations were launched by the US and the Philippines, which have formed an axis to find fault with China. That China appears to be cornered by the whole world in this case is nothing more than bluffing by Washington and Manila.

Antagonism is not prevalent in the South China Sea. Every time when a crisis comes, solution will emerge shortly after.

The root cause of this dynamic rests on China's strong belief in peace and development. Tricky tactics to incite confrontation between each other cannot last long and win the favor of the majority of people who are living around the region.

Returning to Aquino's high-profile accusations, it is possible that he is trying to divert his people's attention from his incompetence in internal affairs, especially in terms of anti-terrorism and economic growth, to something that can evoke nationalist sentiments. China needs to reaffirm its stance on this matter, but does not have to be embroiled in his childish tricks.