Has the Tensions over Spratly’s Islands been about US Weapons Exports?

At the Lew Rockwell Blog, Butler Shaffer writes,

As the Philippines and China continue their conflict over sovereignty in the South China seas, the United States announced that it will provide the Philippines with additional military weaponry. Wars — and the sale of tools of death and destruction with which to conduct them — remain America’s principal exports to the rest of the world!

The big boys club continues to show how they pledge cooperation with one another. China, yesterday, has once again reaffirmed her commitment to help save Europe by offering to buy bonds of crisis affected European countries, as I recently posted.

If big boys seem to be in cahoots over highly sensitive geopolitical affairs, then it would be an oddity to see continuing antagonism on the Spratly’s issue when the same big boys are directly (China) or indirectly (US) involved.

Perhaps, it could be read that China has been bullying the Philippines. Yet perhaps not.

Or that China could be using Spratly’s as diversion to domestic political problems as evidenced by sporadic riots.

But, Professor Butler’s comment provoked a ‘naughty’ idea on my part represented by this question:

Has China been acting as a shill for the US military-industrial complex?

Or stated differently, has the tensions over the Spratly’s Island been all about boosting US weapons exports?

My earlier thoughts on the Spratly’s dispute here and here. Yet, this seems like a new angle to explore.