The carrier the USS Roosevelt together with Japanese ships is starting a 2 week tour of the South China Sea. Japanese planes (I assume flying from Clark) carrying Filipino crew are flying over the islands. Japanese ships reportedly moored off Subic but these might be the ones joining the US carrier. Australian submarines known to have moved to just off Philippines. Seems they are planning to maintain pressure to see what China does.
The Chinese aren't going to back-off, but they probably don't want to be dragged into an actual confrontation either. Their priority is to keep building the islands. So they may just grin and bear it over the sailings while they keep their construction.
However, this does not reduce the risk of accidental collision and firing. Particularly with Japan involved, the Chinese may well be less restraint in confronting the Japanese vs the Americans. Given their mutual and continuing history of bad blood, the Chinese will be much less sanguine over the Japanese lurking about their islands.
The US, Japan & other ASEAN countries plan to form a united front against Chinese land grabs...
South China Sea tensions: Shift in ASEAN against Chinese buildup- Nikkei Asian Review
Upping the ante. Wonder what the US response will be.
Mainland deploys missiles on Paracel islands - RTHK
China always says countries should avoid provocative and unilateral actions .... unless it they are the ones doing it. Philippine government have said they are happy to enter bilateral discussions once UNCLOS has delivered their decision. My guess is that other countries won't do a lot until yhat decision (due in May)