For a Philippine crew approaching its next encounter in the South China Sea, Manila's summons of China's ambassador carries a limited assurance: its government has formally challenged remarks suggesting Beijing could easily defeat the Philippines in a conflict.

The Philippine government has put that objection before the ambassador, or, more precisely, before the diplomatic institution that can receive a protest but cannot by receiving it settle how the next encounter at sea will unfold.

Beijing has separately vowed effective measures against moves it describes as sabotage in the South China Sea. The two governments are therefore attaching different consequences to the same dispute: Manila seeks an answer for language about war; Beijing promises measures against conduct it says warrants a response.

That leaves the Philippine crew with the practical burden of the disagreement. A diplomatic protest establishes what Manila rejects. At the next encounter, the crew will still have to decide how to respond to the vessel in front of it.