On the same day that the "documentary" aired, a few hundred Philippine protestors marched on the Chinese Consulate in Manila carrying "Hands off the Philippines" placards and decrying China's claims to the South China Sea.

History has shown that once whipped up, nationalism can be difficult to contain. In 2014, the Vietnam government approved anti-China protests and protesters indiscriminately attacked Chinese companies and Chinese people who had nothing whatsoever to do with the disputes at the heart of the matter, even going so far as to set fire to South Korean factories, one assumes by mistake. The protests caused several deaths.

Runaway nationalism will surely backfire at a time when the Philippine government claims to want to solve disputes through diplomatic methods. Nationalists have a habit of branding governments weak if leaders do not resort to force.

It is understandable that Aquino may entertain the idea that nationalism can compensate the historical and legal weakness of his case against China. What is more difficult to see is how whipping up internal tensions in his own country will reduce regional tensions beyond Aquino's borders, or indeed benefit him at home.

Aquino would do well to listen to the sage advice of China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying, discard his illusions, cease his provocation and return to the negotiating table.