Tensions between the Philippines and China Continue to Simmer

Philippine President Joseph Estrada is refusing to allow tensions with China to fade. On December 3 he ordered twenty detained Chinese fishermen to be officially charged as criminals. The Chinese government quickly responded by declaring the detentions illegal. Estrada's reason for the prosecution order appears to be to keep tensions high. He is trying to convince his own Senate that the Philippines needs to sign a military cooperation agreement with the U.S. At the same time, he is pressuring the U.S. to rethink its current China policy. The problem is, how far is Estrada willing to take this in order to achieve his goals, and how will the U.S. respond when confronted with a choice between China and the Philippines?