The anti-China protests staged by a newly formed coalition of private Philippine groups in front of the Chinese embassy in Manila and consular offices in other parts of the world are yet another antic to sensationalize the territorial dispute in the South China Sea between the two countries.

Manila is using the protests to mislead public opinion and pass the buck for the escalating tensions between the two countries onto China.

But instead of bolstering its case as Manila wants, such protests only serve to further poison the atmosphere for meaningful consultations.