The United States has scheduled naval military exercises in the South China Sea in November, particularly in the disputed areas of the West Philippine Sea, and has invited the navies of its allied nations to participate. The venue and the timing of this military exercise are suspect, coming as it is in the same week that Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to visit Manila, following his attendance at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Papua New Guinea. The sinister implication is that the American military exercise is not-so-subtle move to steal the thunder out of Xi's visit to Manila, during which the Chinese and Filipino presidents are scheduled to witness the signing of various accords, including the joint oil and energy exploration in the South China Sea and several major "Build, Build, Build" agreements.

Naval exercise in the South China Sea. (2018, October 11). Malaya Business Insight, p. B3.