MY TAKE: Is a Pacific war in the offing? Philippines responds with live fire demo to Communist China's water cannon bombardment of Philippine vessels

The Philippines sends a clear message to neighboring China to stop the latter’s bullying with an ‘explosive’ demonstration of firepower in joint exercises with the U.S., France and other allies. In a related announcement, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. promises a "full scale battle simulation" in next year's scheduled war games. These dramatic developments are a complete reversal of previous President Duterte's policy of appeasement which allowed China to rapidly establish military bases on islands within the Philippines' territorial waters. It reminded of Obama's own version of the notorious doctrine which gave rise to the dreaded ISIS.