Was recent skirmish at Scarborough Shoal a calculated diversionary tactic?

.. The recent skirmish at Scarborough Shoal, where Chinese Air Force aircraft allegedly dropped flares in the path of a Philippine Air Force NC-212i plane, is a significant and alarming event in the ongoing maritime tensions and disputes in the South China Sea (SCS) between the Philippines and China.

Nevertheless, it is indeed puzzling why the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. would choose to engage in such a high-risk and provocative action, where a Philippine Air Force aircraft deliberately entered the airspace over Scarborough Shoal — especially considering that the shoal is under de facto Chinese control. The Chinese response to such a move from the Philippines was predictably swift and firm, given their established presence and assertiveness in the area. This raises the question of whether this action was intended as a diversionary tactic aimed at shifting public attention away from the mounting domestic challenges facing the Marcos Jr. administration.
The current government is under significant scrutiny, grappling with a host of allegations and controversies, including….

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