This explanation recalls the Boxer Rebellion, an anti-foreigner movement in China that peaked in 1900. Eight nations, countries with a strong presence in the region rallied troops in Beijing to quell the rebellion and the Qin Dynasty that supported it. For this respondent, Duterte’s warmth toward Xi Jinping is cunning. If the peace comes to an end, it would be smart to side with the country that had deeply-rooted motivation for winning. Whether this remains relevant today, I can’t really tell. But with increasing bold measures for the Chinese to strengthen their military and by recently initiating closer economic ties in the region, it's an angle worth considering.