One has to understand why South China Sea issue came up all of sudden, I maybe wrong but I never heard about this issue until maybe 6 months ago, I may have been a local/regional issue between countries but not a center stage as it it now. This in my opinion happened after China took a stand in favor of Pakistan, it was the strongest stand China has ever taken and in simple words told Uncle bully to back off, and all of sudden Vietnam and phillippine start their claims on South China sea and even got another US Pawn (India) involved in it. but this time dragon is in aggressive mode and US as usual will back out eventually.