UN only recognize China's ownership in SCS. after WWII, those islands handed over from Japan to China. there were many maps in China showed those islands where found and mapped by Chinese in 600 years ago if not even earlier to 1000 years ago.
from history and UN point of views, those belong to China. how to protect Chinese claim? by power! Philippine is still trying hard to prove what they claim, can not protect what they claim.
The fact, China is dislinking US and other countries from SCS dispute water. so far, the situation is at Chinese favor, China is blowing Philippine little by little out of SCS water. USA lost voice at this moment.
Philippine lost:
1) lost some control out of SCS islands, if the tension continue, the speed will accelerate.
2) lost political supports. No other countries stand up behind Philippine. even USA is stepping back.
3) economically Philippine enjoys trade surplus from China. China had banned sending thousands of visitors to Philippine, cutting imports from Philippine, cutting investment to Philippine,,,,
4) as I know, China is building more ships, include war ships and tighten control over SCS, Philippine is on the priority list.
Fighting against China in SCS is a missing impossible for all small countries.
Will US helps? no, it will only make the case worse.
Vietnam invited US over, guess what, look at this map,
it is the price for Vietnam, China starts oil drilling from the noise of Vietnam.